Immigration proposal spurs debate

COSTA MESA -- Immigration. Legalization. Exploitation. Deportation.

Those Costa Mesa buzzwords do more than just rhyme, they spark a

variety of extreme emotions in different factions of the community. Those

four words, and the sentiments inherently attached to them, have been the

topic of many public -- and undoubtedly private -- discussions.

Those same concerns came front and center this week on the national

stage during a state meeting between President Bush and Mexican President

Vicente Fox.

Fox called on Bush to work toward changing the U.S. immigration

policy, in part by giving amnesty to potentially millions of undocumented

workers now living in America.

And Bush, for his part, has said -- carefully -- there may be room to

work on the issue.

Although details of an official policy are far from complete, talks of

change already have sparked debate and speculation in Costa Mesa, which

the 2000 census found to be nearly 32% Latino, and on its Westside, where

44% of the residents are Latino, according to a 1997 survey.

The first point to be made, Costa Mesa officials said, is that there

are no published or accurate statistics on the number of undocumented

workers living in Costa Mesa.

“When you stop to think about it, there’s not going to be a lot of

documentation on undocumented workers,” City Manager Allan Roeder said.

Despite the lack of official numbers, the effects of illegal

immigration are apparent in Costa Mesa, Roeder said. Some end up becoming

the responsibility of local government or nonprofit groups.

Councilman Chris Steel -- who ran and won his seat last year in part

on a platform calling for the closing of the city’s Job Center -- said

Bush’s proposed changes would have a devastating effect on Costa Mesa.

He added that he believes the city is overrun by undocumented workers

who cannot afford to live here.

The problem goes beyond legalization, he said. Even if they had the

legal right to be here, many do not have the ability or education to

adapt to the culture here.

Steel said he does not blame the immigrants for “flocking” to Costa

Mesa, he blames the City Council for allowing so many “magnets,” such as

numerous charities and the Job Center.

Workers who congregated around the Job Center looking for work Friday

-- those who could be most affected -- had varying opinions about the

proposed legislation.

Eddie Bernal, 22, of Costa Mesa, said he thinks the talks are

beneficial to everybody.

“Everybody knows they want us here as much as we want to be here. You

should see all the work we get and from rich people too,” he said.

Giving legal status to him and his colleagues would mark an official

sentiment that the work they do is appreciated, he added.

Mexicans would gain a lot from such national recognition, he said.

“We also want sodas out here daily,” he joked, while wiping the sweat

from his brow.

Bernal and fellow worker Javier Savana, 32, admitted nobody they knew

had legal papers. Nobody has the time to apply for them or to wait until

they are approved, Savana said.

Because his is an issue of survival, Savana said he is not worried

about the “right” way to do things.

“It doesn’t matter to me, I only want to work,” Savana said.

But Savana disagrees with the notion that he is here to take advantage

of the system. He provides a service that people here would never do for

so little money, he said.

He also admitted there are undocumented immigrants who survive from

handouts but said they are not the majority.

“I never ask for anything. I don’t like asking for things, it goes

against my nature. I came here to work for my family, but others have a

different idea. It’s those people who make everybody mad. They make me

mad also,” Savana said.

Such work ethics should be welcome in Costa Mesa and surrounding

communities, said Share Ourselves founder Jean Forbath. Forbath said she

is pleased to see talks focused on the benefits that immigrants bring to

American society. She called it a great step forward.

“So many of our families have been in Costa Mesa for years and have

proven themselves to be worthy contributors to our community and should

have a chance to legalize their status,” Forbath said.

Even Steel could not deny the contributions immigrants make to the

economy. He said there is an apparent demand by businesses to cut costs

and hire cheap labor.

“But we’re not here to satisfy the businesses to the detriment of our

overall community. Those business leaders don’t care about legal status

and most don’t live in this city, so they don’t care that we have to deal

with the repercussions,” Steel said.

QUESTION

GIVEN AMNESTY

What would the effect of a potential amnesty for undocumented workers

be on Costa Mesa? Call our Readers Hotline at (949) 642-6086 or send

e-mail to [email protected]. Please spell your name and include your

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