Escondido city officials refuse to give up.
Two years ago, the city passed an ordinance to punish landlords for renting to illegal immigrants. But it rescinded the rental restriction after a legal challenge was filed and bills began to mount.
Now Escondido is trying a new approach to what it calls the "public nuisances" of illegal immigration, citing residents for code violations such as garage conversions, graffiti and junk cars.
The city is also debating a new ordinance that would restrict overnight street parking without a permit. In addition, it is drafting a policy that would prohibit drivers from picking up day laborers along some streets.
"We learned from the rental ordinance," Councilman Sam Abed said. "We changed our focus to quality of life issues."
Like many city leaders frustrated with the federal government, Escondido officials said they were taking immigration enforcement into their own hands. They said they were fighting the perception that Escondido, a city in affluent northern San Diego County with a burgeoning Latino population, has become a destination for illegal immigrants.
Councilman Ed Gallo said he regularly receives complaints from Escondido residents about illegal immigrants crowding schools, hospitals and neighborhoods.
"If you are not here legally, you don't belong here," Gallo said. "We're talking about image and appearance. . . . We are trying to change the image of Escondido."
The city's police department is also playing a role.
Police Chief Jim Maher said his department conducted two "criminal alien" sweeps this year. Officers identified illegal immigrants with criminal records who had been deported but then returned. In two separate sweeps, Escondido police arrested 31 illegal immigrants and turned them over to federal authorities for possible deportation.
"Our police department cannot secure the border," Maher told a small crowd at a town hall meeting. "But we can do everything possible to remove the criminal aliens from this community."
Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Lauren Mack said the police department sweeps were a "unique enforcement approach" because the officers acted largely on their own.
"Their assistance is greatly appreciated," she said, commending the department for verifying in advance that the targets were deportable.
