Immigration Debate Goes Local

Small cities, like Costa Mesa in Southern California, have taken stands on immigration policy that cause greater division among locals, according to columnist Michael Hiltzik.

2 minute read

April 5, 2006, 5:00 AM PDT

By David Gest


"In December, Costa Mesa Mayor Allan R. Mansoor, an Orange County deputy sheriff in real life as well as the child of immigrants, proposed requiring city police to check the immigration status of anyone stopped for even minor offenses, and detain those suspected of being in the country illegally. The c City c Council, on a 3-2 vote, approved a more limited plan for perhaps 30 detectives, gang control officers, and jail personnel to receive federal training and certification to check the bona fides only of suspects picked up for serious crimes. An estimated 1,500 people rallied against the plan at City Hall on Saturday.

Mansoor didn't answer my request to talk about the program. But he has suggested publicly that he was responding to a clamor by Costa Mesa voters for action on illegal immigration. Well, not all voters, perhaps. The measure has split the suburban community, of which more than 30% is Latino; scarcely a council meeting passes without vehement expressions of support and angry denunciations alike coming from the audience. A call for a boycott of local businesses that refused to oppose the measure split residents even further."

"What irks some critics is that the board's narrow majority pulled the plan out of thin air.

'There wasn't a study session held on it, the community wasn't dialed into the process,' says Ivan Calderon, a community activist and businessman who founded his chain of five Taco Mesa and Taco Rosa restaurants in Costa Mesa 14 years ago. 'I believe the focus of our municipality has to be to keep the city safe, minimize crime, instill trust, and get people working together so they feel comfortable coming forward. Now people are already afraid of going out.'"

Monday, April 3, 2006 in latimes.com

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of residential street in Los Angeles with palm trees and hazy city in distance.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience

Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

April 27 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Entrance sign for San Jose-Santa Clara Regional wastewater treatment facility.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action

As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

April 27 - * A Placemaking Journal

Rendering of Penrose Roundabout in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts

Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.

April 27 - WHYY