Who poses the greater threat to the safety of Carlsbad residents, drivers using cell phones while weaving their way at high speed down El Camino Real, or a bunch of guys standing around on the sidewalk hoping to be offered a job by the multitaskers whizzing by?
The sting operation they launched last month to catch violators of the city’s anti-solicitation ordinance indicates city police seem to think the guys on the sidewalk are more dangerous. According to police Capt. Neil Galucci, the bust is “almost like a prostitution citation,” because it requires that the perpetrator enter into a hiring agreement. Police approach the day laborers in unmarked cars and civilian clothes, pretending to offer them work. If they fall for the scam, the undercover cops drive their victims a few blocks away and cite them for being tricked into violating the law. Those suspected of being in the country illegally are turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol.Critics of the operation accuse police of simply engaging in intimidation and harassment. Proponents say it’s a legitimate way for authorities to apprehend and deport those who are in the country illegally. Police say they want to move the groups because traffic safety is endangered when drivers stop to hire them, although they have no evidence that the sites have caused accidents.
Let’s take a closer look at each of those arguments. The U.S. Border Patrol’s mission statement reads, “We are the guardians of our nation’s borders. We are America’s front line. We safeguard the American homeland at and beyond our borders.” But how far “beyond our borders” does that go? Some see no problem with the border patrol going into communities to search out everyone who is not here legally to deport them, regardless of whether they have put our lives or property at risk in criminal activities. They believe local law enforcement should work closely with border patrol agents to enforce immigration law.
Others believe local law enforcement should be responsible only for the health and safety of the community, focusing resources on crime prevention and traffic safety, rather than immigration enforcement. When someone breaks a law requiring incarceration, that person’s immigration status becomes an issue. They’ve sacrificed their liberty because of a criminal act that threatens the community. The Obama administration has placed a top priority on deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.
I have no problem with deporting anyone who puts our lives and property at risk. I applaud crackdowns on drug and sex traffickers who come across our borders to do business. But to search out for deportation those who are no threat to our public safety and, in fact, are doing needed work in our neighborhoods, strikes me as a waste of resources at the very time city budgets are being cut.
I’d rather my taxes go to chasing down drivers on cell phones, rather than tricking day laborers, most of whom are in the country legally, into violating minor city ordinances.
Richard J. Riehl writes from Carlsbad. Contact him at RiehlWorld2@yahoo.com.
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