Bilbray supports Escondido rental ban
By: DAVID FRIED - Staff Writer | ∞
ESCONDIDO ---- Add this inland city's top Republican to the list of those who support Escondido's recent decision to ban landlords from renting to illegal immigrants.
Rep. Brian Bilbray has campaigned on a platform of immigration reform and has regularly pushed for stricter enforcement of immigration laws. He said last week that he not only supports the action of one of the largest cities in the heavily Republican 50th Congressional District, he believes it sends a message to his colleagues in Washington.
"It has to be done," Bilbray said of addressing immigration ---- normally a federal issue ---- at the local level, "because the federal government has forced local governments to do either nothing at all, or do what they can, where they can, when they can."
Bilbray compared the ordinance to his efforts in the 1980s when, as mayor of Imperial Beach, he hopped on a bulldozer to divert a sewage leak from Mexico that was polluting the city's waters. His actions drew harsh criticism from environmentalists, but spurred federal officials to address the spill.
But Bilbray, who was voted into office in a June special election and is running for re-election in November, stopped short of calling the law effective local policy, characterizing it instead as a message for Congress.
"This is a cry for help from the people of Escondido to Washington, D.C.," Bilbray, R-Escondido, said in a recent interview. "There are cities across this country that are crying for help ... and this is their way of saying, 'Please, if you won't do anything, then get out of the way and allow us to try and do it.' "
Escondido is the largest of about a half-dozen cities nationwide to adopt similar ordinances.
In adopting the rental law, a majority of Escondido council members lambasted elected officials in Washington for failing to push through policy reforms that would stem the flow of illegal immigrants to the United States.
The Pew Hispanic Center, a Washington-based nonpartisan research organization, estimates that an average of 700,000 to 850,000 illegal immigrants come into the country each year, including people who cross the border illegally and those who come legally with visas and stay after their permits expire.
And a recent study by the American Immigration Law Foundation, a nonprofit in Washington that supports legal immigration, estimates some 42,000 illegal immigrants reside in the 50th District.
Bilbray, who also sits on the board of advisers of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a Washington-based anti-immigration organization, dismissed the notion that the council's actions might reflect upon his own work in Congress.
"The immigration issue being a high-profile issue is not a reflection of me being a congressman," Bilbray said. "Me being a congressman is a reflection that illegal immigration is a big problem in this district. And that is a distinct difference."
Under Escondido's ban, the city could ask landlords alleged to be allowing illegal immigrants to live in their properties to provide documentation proving their tenants' immigration status. The city would provide the documents to the federal government for verification.
Landlords who violate the law would be subject to penalties of up to $1,000 and six months in jail for each violation.
Many Escondido landlords say the law unfairly singles out their businesses and forces them to act as enforcers of immigration law. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have promised to file legal challenges to the law.
Asked whether he thought the city's efforts could be considered to run counter to the federal government's authority to write and enforce immigration law, as some critics contend, Bilbray said he did not believe it did.
"I never see them (critics) say anything to the sanctuary cities," Bilbray said of towns such as National City, which have declared they will not use city funds to help enforce immigration law. "At least what's going on in Escondido is where they're trying to augment the federal policy, not trying to oppose it."
However, Bilbray's Democratic challenger in the upcoming election, Francine Busby, said she recognizes that illegal immigration is a problem that affects all communities.
"But I don't think it is fair to force the burden of enforcing immigration law on the backs of landlords," Busby said, adding that solutions to stemming illegal immigration need to be addressed at the federal level, not one city at a time.
Supporting the ordinance is exactly what Bilbray should be doing, said Don McKinney, president of the Republican Club of North County.
"It's up to him to recognize that elected officials in this town in his district have made a decision," McKinney said. "I don't think what's happening in Escondido is going to be tremendously effective. But it has made a real outcry that we need to work on this issue as the number one issue of the day."
Some high-profile Republicans in the district disagree, including Escondido Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler, who voted against the ordinance and said she has spoken with many Republican and independent voters who also believe the ban was the wrong thing to do.
"I'm disappointed that he would come out in favor of it, because it's his job (to address immigration)," Pfeiler said. "He needs to be the leader in Congress in fixing this problem. And he has some excellent solutions."
Bilbray has proposed harsher penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants, and the creation of tamper-proof Social Security cards with bioelectric information in order to verify a person's citizenship or immigration status. And comprehensive immigration reform will mean breaking some boundaries on each side of the political debate, he said.
"The extremists have controlled the immigration agenda from one side or the other," Bilbray said. "And those people that just want the law enforced and want the situation under control are not extremists. They are the mainstream of America."
Staff writer Edward Sifuentes contributed to this report.
Contact staff writer David Fried at (760) 740-5416 or dfried@nctimes.com.
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Fully engaged in the process wrote on Oct 29, 2006 2:26 AM:I must confess that I was surprised to read this article, especially, today and in this forum. I have been a tentative supportor of Bilbray. The endorsement from Pfeiler did not inspire my confidence. I am a long-time resident and not a fan. As I was headed out this afternoon I got a call with Brian's soft liitle voice, asking me to 'please press 1' to be part of a town hall meeting thing where I could ask a question. I had other plans and figured that bunches of others would ask my question for me. "What will YOU do to provide funding for the fence and what is the time table for the funding and the enforcement?
A member of the mainstream wrote on Oct 29, 2006 2:53 AM:When our secttion of this great country became part of this great country in the mid 19th century, the people living here were given the choice of which country they wanted to belong to. The vast majority chose the U.S. Those who came after that had decisions to make. Unfortunately, we are still awaiting their decisions. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Of course he supports it: wrote on Oct 29, 2006 5:36 AM:That's a no brainer. He supports the fence and the war as well. Stay the course. We haven't done enough damage in the world yet. We need to keep on killin.
Independent Voter wrote on Oct 29, 2006 5:54 AM:Good job, Congressman Bilbray! I was afraid that he may be a wimpy Pfeiler Republican. We need a Federal law with a rental ban that allows strong local enforcement. The Escondido ban was substantially watered down so that some landlords will still get away with harboring illegal aliens for financial gain. Bilbray has my vote!
gimmeabreak wrote on Oct 29, 2006 6:21 AM:Expressing 11th hour (a week before the election) support well after the fact (it was passed back on 10/4 - where was Brian O'Three Towns then?) for the unconstitutionally flawed ordinance is further proof that Bilbray will say anything to get elected.
Miles wrote on Oct 29, 2006 6:40 AM:We have to begin somewheres, and those who are making money from illegals should be hit in the pocketbook. I'm a plumber, and it's appalling just how bad then living conditions for those folks are. These "slumlords" know that they can force these people to live in sub-standard conditions while actually charging more money. The toilet doesn't work? Fix it yourself, or do without! There is a lot of money being made because the illegals won't report the bad conditions. And, if there are 15-20 people in a house, well, thats a lot more money.
THIS Democrat has already wrote on Oct 29, 2006 7:00 AM:voted for Brian Bilbray and his courageous stand on illegal immigration is the reason. It is the single most important issue that affects the southwest USA.
Ernie wrote on Oct 29, 2006 7:39 AM:Finally David!!Thank God for Brian Bilbray who has my vote.Mayor Pheiler,where do you stand on illegal immigration?I'm tired of hearing you blaming the feds and you not doing anything!You need to support it and send the message to congress,just what McKinney is saying in the article.Mayor Pheiler,your days are numbered as Mayor of this city.
John wrote on Oct 29, 2006 8:24 AM:Pandering to the angry mob.
Lobby for Agents wrote on Oct 29, 2006 8:25 AM:Our city leaders need to lobby the Federal Government for more Border Patrol Agents in Escondido. We should have at least two agents assigned full-time to Escondido.
Get the Feds out now wrote on Oct 29, 2006 8:34 AM:The Feds sit on their hands when it comes to enforcement of anti-immigration laws. BUT...The Feds want to spend big bucks fighting marijuana patients in San Diego County (with Bilbray's blessing in the form of a vote to continue funding DEA raids on Medical Marijuana users and providers in our county). Why are Federal Officials waisting money chasing after pot smokers who are abiding by state law, and failing to enforce border security? Could they have found a more misplaced priority? I thought a Republican controlled federal government would support local contols - but they are just out for control in DC. I say, get the Feds out of town and off our backs - and Bilbray is one of them.
Cal wrote on Oct 29, 2006 8:43 AM:Gee Whiz! Brian Bilbray doesn't even live in 'scundido. He lives in Imperial Beach or Carlsbad or Virginia. He's so busy triangulating between them he doesn't have time to fix the laws in his own town - which ever that would be. Instead, he is riding piggy back on Escondido's Rental Ban to get himself a leg up in the elections. My dog lifts his leg too.
Democrat Robert wrote on Oct 29, 2006 9:10 AM:Bravo Rep. Bilbray! Time and time again you have shown us all your committment to demand that immigrants "get in line" to enter legally or "get out". Its clear that illegal immigration is and must be in the minds of the residents of the 50CD. There are clearly other issues before our nation, but none that effect our community like illegal immigration!
MuchoMachoBilbray wrote on Oct 29, 2006 10:57 AM:Bilbray is Mr. Opportunity. The ban happened back in early October with no word from him and now that his campaign is sagging big time he jumps back into his cape of the illegal immigrant crusader Mucho Macho Bilbray. REally what has he done other than endorse, and hold forums. How many forums do you need Brian to do the real job of going after the employers of illegals? And it isn't just the guys on the street, its the thousands of companies across San Diego that employ illegals as we speak. I'm voting for Busby because I believe she will do something about this problem and I don't buy into the amnesty meme that Bilbray is using because that's exactly what Bush is planning to do. So when Bush pushes his residency/citizenship program what do you think rubberstamp Bilbray will do?
Too bad: wrote on Oct 29, 2006 12:37 PM:He doesn't know where he lives.
gimmeabreak wrote on Oct 29, 2006 2:04 PM:Bilbray has told that tired old tractor/dozer sewage story sooooooo many times it's a wonder they don't play the "Green Acres" theme song when he walks on stage. How 'bout this one, Brian really knows how to throw the "poop" around?
El Guero wrote on Oct 29, 2006 3:08 PM:Just listen to the open-borders ... on this site accusing Bilbray of electioneering on the immigration issue. Francine (I'll vote any way my party tells me to) Busby says that she recognizes that 'illegal immigration is a problem'. To that end she swims obediantly along in her little school of Democratic hopefuls and declares that 'earned legalization', not 'amnesty', is the answer. Earned legalization. That's a novel concept. How, exactly, does it differ from amnesty?
Marie wrote on Oct 29, 2006 5:20 PM:It's very simple and clear: if you are legal, respect the law and the United States, you vote for Bilbray. I did!
morty wrote on Oct 29, 2006 7:40 PM:I AGREE WITH MARIE.AND I AT ONE TIME HAD 4 HOMES.MAYBE BILBRAY DONT LIKE STOPING AT MOTELS.THATS HIS RITE.HE CAN OWN WHAT HE WANTS.HE MAY OWN MORE UNDERWARE THEN ME BUT I DONT CARE.
TC wrote on Oct 29, 2006 7:51 PM:I don't like Bilbray, but I do like this new law. This isn't against Mexicans, it's against illegals, when will people get that? In the meantime, if you're illegal here and from another country AND don't speak English, get out!
Takin It Back wrote on Oct 30, 2006 12:14 AM:Finally a Federal official endorses this great ordinance in Escondido. This took stones to publicly oppose his president and many in his party. Brian is a man of principal and determined to stop illegal immigration. You are either part of the solution or you are part of the problem. Too many bleeding hearts that blog on here are the reason we have this gigantic illegal immigration crisis. Wake up Ameica!!
Bilbray gets my vote wrote on Nov 1, 2006 6:27 PM:Bilbray gets my vote because he makes sense. Francine Busby leaves me no choice because she panders to the illegals and their sympathizers. If there was a decent Democrat representative running that could have instilled confidence regarding this issue, I would have voted Democrat, but I can't in this instance. Rapid overpopulation of this region is the biggest environmental/quality of life (the two are synonomous) threat that we face. We can't continue to absorb high numbers of illegals without suffering some deterioration of life as we know it. At some point we have to say, enough is enough. For some of us that time is now. We'll know by November 8th whether or not the majority of voters in our district consider this a wedge issue. I sincerely hope we send a clear message and make forward progress in the near future. I view illegal immigrants as causation for increased tax rates. I don't want to pay more taxes to help subsidize the masses of seperatists that contribute so little, yet demand so much. I'LL REMEMBER MAY 1st ON NOVEMBER 7th
Ruben wrote on Nov 1, 2006 7:03 PM:I voted for Busby. Billbray would have been for black slavery legal. He would have been for sending Japanese to camps WW2 legal. He would have been for the legal massacre of American Indians. He would have been for the making of legal treaties with Indians and then breaking those treaties. Yes his racism is evident!!!
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