Angela wrote on Mar 4, 2008 11:47 PM: "the organization's executive director, said that the organization is already used to checking people's paperwork."
This line is rather unclear because while one can check someone's paperwork that unfortunately does not mean they are legal. Most of the migrants in the illegal camps carry fake identification.-

O heck yes wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:16 AM:We already have a federal government that refuses to do its job concerning illegal aliens. These guys on capital hill think the major issue affecting Americans is DRUGS in the sporting world. The government knows what the issues affecting millions of Americans but are to cowardly to face the issues. I don't know about you, but if I had an employee who REFUSED to do his job he would be gone in less than a minute. These bozos on capitol hill better start realizing the Americans are ticked and APRIL 15th is coming up! As in Jorges own words, heck you can't expect me to lock up 12 million non paying tax payers can you?

Tuck wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:21 AM:When is the protest?-

Carlsbad Resident wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:30 AM:Why not use the 2 million to make up for what the state is going to take from our schools. It makes no sense to fire teachers and then give 2 million for a homeless shelter.-

shelter wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:57 AM:For decades now the strawberry workers next to I5 have had to live in outdoor camps and had these camps destroyed yearly when the season was over. Finally the city of Carlsbad is trying to fix this tragedy when out of the closet hopa the SDMM yelling "boo" about how some of these workers "might" be illegal aliens. Catholic Charities has promised to check everyones papers but this will have no effect on the Minutemen's real agenda - bashing people who look Hispanic.-

Don't get it wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:18 AM:Where is Carlsbad going to get the money. There are some many things Carlsbad needs first. We have no school buses in Carlsbad, but we can pay for migrant housing? Sorry, I don't get it.-

Carlsbad you had better wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:44 AM:start fighting for your city or you will end up like Escondido and Vista! And WHY is the Catholic Church getting ANY public funds????

Carlsbad Resident wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:46 AM:I don't see what the big deal is all about. The money comes from and goes to the same purpose. Almost everyone wants to save the Strawberry Fields and keep the farmland, but how is that going to be when the fields are no longer profitable because of more expensive overhead cost such as labor? You want to get rid of the cheap labor and the housing that provides the workers a better quality of life but still expect to pay lower prices for fruit and horticulture. I'm a US born citizen, a Carlsbad resident, and a tax paying citizen. I say quit being a bunch of cry babies and support a good cause.

Minuteman wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:54 AM:To shelter, who wrote that the Minutemen's real agenda is "bashing people who look Hispanic". FYI, one of the Minutemen present at last night's meeting in Carlsbad WAS Hispanic, as was at least one of their attending supporters. Another attending Minuteman has a Hispanic wife, daughter, & in-laws. All of that just couldn't be the case if the Minutemen had a defacto bias against Hispanics. In reality, the Minutemen's real agenda is to oppose those who are in this country illegally, who owe their loyalties to a foreign country, and who are destroying our educational, health and social systems.

Bo wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:58 AM:This is fantastic news, it's just a decade or two late! It would have been great to have this shelter when Carlsbad and Encinitas were truly farming towns....it's kind of ironic that the funding is derived from the loss of farm lands. Luckly it is located in one of the last growing areas left!

Problem Solved wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:58 AM:I thought one of Schwilk's main complaints was migrants trespassing on private property. Problem solved Jeff.

Cocnerned-1 wrote on Mar 5, 2008 8:27 AM:I have mixed feeling on this. One is why not? It is a positive thing to get these workers out of the canyons and into decent shelters. I do agree that the farmers should at least help spot the bill, but it's a start toward a solution. On the other, conspiracy laden, hand I wonder could this be the start of the great NAU takeover?

Southside Hawk wrote on Mar 5, 2008 8:42 AM:First, being raised a Catholic, and have high regard for the ethics of most Catholics, I understand "humanitarian"; however, because we are being invaded with the battering ram of 12-20 million aliens, with the help of Mexican government and our own cowardly politicos (NAU, Kids, WAKE- UP AMERICA!)any organization that attempts to aid and abet Illegals should have their tax-empt status taken away.
Secondly, my father owned a tomato processing company and throughout the 50's, 60's etc built housing for his PR migrant works in NJ, Ohio and elsewhere. Was a time our governments made employers follow the law on using alien workers; now the strawberry, tomato farmers get a FREE RIDE at our, the taxpayers expense! Thanks Jorge!

To Don't Get It wrote on Mar 5, 2008 8:47 AM:Do a little research first: the city council does not fund schools or buses. That's the obligation of the school district, whether it's Carlsbad, Encinitas, or San Dieguito (they all overlap in Carlsbad). Lobby and comment to your school board if you want busing.
P.S. The money came from developers. Reread the story.

One Question??? Oh no lots of questions???? wrote on Mar 5, 2008 9:02 AM:When did Schwilk and Spencer move to Carlsbad? Just who do they think they are going to random cities and demanding to be hear and obeyed? When will they learn that City officials owe them nothing not even an explanation as to the decisions they make, especially since they don't live in Carlsbad. Why do they make everything that has to do with migrants their business. The biggest problem with them is that they [seem to] presume that all Latinos are illegal immigrants....that is flawed thinking which leads to the obvious hatred they have caused in the Latino communities.

American woman wrote on Mar 5, 2008 9:13 AM:To "Shelter:" Please, can't you come up with a more original arguement than the tired old "racist" crap? The farmers themselves should be funding every penny of such a project! Btw, I'll do the design and planning for half the $108,500 the city is offering! Surely someone at Catholic Charities should be honored to donate his or her talents to such a project. If it takes $108,500 to "start" the planning and design, how much will it cost to "finish" it and actually build the structure??? This is absurd! Growers need to take responsibility for their imported workers!

Agree to disagree wrote on Mar 5, 2008 9:14 AM:"we are aiding and abetting illegal aliens," Vista resident Michael Spencer told the council." Vista resident addressing the Mayor and City Council in Carlsbad, what is wrong with this picture? Oh come on Michael Spencer stop being such a hypocrite you [met your wife through] magazine from Mexico!! http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/10/22/news/top_stories/22_02_0310_21_06.txt You have the audacity to talk about others who aid and abet. I think the ... bride business is shady, sleazy, and therefore illegal so in my opinion you are aiding and abetting. I am sure you disagree with me and I disagree with you so who is correct? I think you and your type use too broad a brush when it comes to migrants and assume they are ALL here illegally. That is when this issue becomes more about race than a genuine concern over illegal immigration.

To Don't Get It wrote on Mar 5, 2008 9:46 AM:Buses are the decision of the school districts, not the city council. Different governing body, different rules. There is no connection between two issues.

Google wrote on Mar 5, 2008 10:14 AM:H-2A look under housing.

Concerned-1 wrote on Mar 5, 2008 10:17 AM:I have mixed feeling on this. One is why not? It is a positive thing to get these workers out of the canyons and into decent shelters. I do agree that the farmers should at least help spot the bill, but it's a start toward a solution.

STOPthe Insanity! wrote on Mar 5, 2008 10:24 AM:You've got to be kidding me. Is this a JOKE? Carlsbad CC better take a look around their community and realize EVERY DAY American families are LOSING THEIR HOMES. The housing market disaster is CREATING homelessness in every city across this nation, and it's NOT going to get better any time soon. Some are losing their jobs as well. That money needs to be used for our OWN citizens in NEED!

NCT Censoring Blogs Again! wrote on Mar 5, 2008 11:08 AM:Where's my blog from 7:30? How about letting us speak about this issue and stop letting the illegal alien activists make wild accusations about American citizens?!

To Carol wrote on Mar 5, 2008 11:10 AM:No Carol, you are wrong! It is against the LAW to aid and abet illegal aliens, especially with city money! Do your homework before you comment on the latest pro-Mexico socialist program rammed down the taxpayers throats!

Bob wrote on Mar 5, 2008 11:29 AM:I do agree that the workers do need a place to sleep and be safe, but I don't see how it falls on the taxpayers. If the owners of the fields want to pay the workers so little that they can't afford a place to live then it should be his responsibility to house them, and if that's the case there is a whole other can of worms to be opened. If they are getting enough wages then it should be the workers responsibility. I do hope the City of Carlsbad and the owners of the fields are responsible enough to have only legal immigrants working with wages that are not substandard.

Gee I guess all of those wrote on Mar 5, 2008 11:55 AM:emails and phone calls might of done some good! WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans are set to announce today the hardest-hitting package of immigration enforcement measures seen yet -- one that would require jail time for illegal immigrants caught crossing the border, make it harder for them to open bank accounts and compel them to communicate in English when dealing with federal agencies. Most of the bills stand little chance of being debated in the Democratic-controlled Congress. But the move by some of the Senate's leading Republicans underscores how potent the immigration issue remains, particularly in a presidential election year.
The bills give Republicans a way to put pressure on the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates to take a tougher stance on immigration. They also reflect a shift toward harsher immigration rhetoric and legislative proposals from both parties since Congress failed to pass a comprehensive overhaul in 2007. The package -- an enforcement smorgasbord assembled by at least eight lawmakers -- consists of 11 bills, but it could expand to as many as 14. Some elements echo House bills, but others go beyond House proposals. One would discourage states from issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants by docking 10% of highway funding from states that continue to do so.
You can censor but you can't stop people from yelling at Washington!

I can hardly wait wrote on Mar 5, 2008 12:03 PM:until the GOP illegal immigration bill comes out in the NCT!:) -

To Bob wrote on Mar 5, 2008 12:11 PM:How is this falling on the taxpayers. Read the article and then comment.

dave from oceanside wrote on Mar 5, 2008 12:42 PM:Sigh, Illegal immigration is an issue that can destroy the fabric of this nation if left unchecked.
Only people that have an unwavering allegiance to this country should be considered for immigration.
That also includes following the lawful entry into this country.
As Roosevelt said, you can have only one allegiance and it is to this country.
Laws can be changed, after all they were written by man and have their logic based on the conditions at that time they were conceived.
However some laws are necessary for this nation to remain one cohesive structure.
Take Canada for instance.
The French Canadian section came very close to fracturing that country a few years ago.
Why, because they did not adopt one language and conformity in laws and culture, which inevitably set them against one another.
Won't happen here!
Remember the American civil war?

Past immigration kept immigrants separated from their former lives due to cost of travel and communication.
That caused rapid assimilation by today's standards.
That is no longer the case with cheap air travel and especially with Mexico right on our border.
Back and forth, back and forth they go.
That does not build a team member, only separate goals not beneficial to this country.

My treat! This one you can wrote on Mar 5, 2008 12:49 PM:censor! While investigating the recent “Mad Cow Disease” scare, the federal government was able to track the history of a cow suspected of carrying the disease from it’s current home in the state of Washington to it’s birthplace in Canada almost three years ago, right down to the stall. They were also able to track down her off-spring and locate them on the farms they were sold to. There are over 38 million illegal aliens wandering around our country that the federal government seems incapable of finding. SOLUTION: Give every illegal alien a cow.

Hatch in Escondido wrote on Mar 5, 2008 1:03 PM:IF, and I say IF the money is used to house illegal aliens, the city and the shelter should be warned:

Title 8, U.S.C. § 1324(a) Offenses

Encouraging/Inducing -- Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv) makes it an offense for any person who -- encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law.

Conspiracy/Aiding or Abetting -- Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(v) expressly makes it an offense to engage in a conspiracy to commit or aid or abet the commission of the foregoing offenses.

Penalties -- The basic statutory maximum penalty for violating 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(i) and (v)(I) (alien smuggling and conspiracy) is a fine under title 18, imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both. With regard to violations of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(ii)-(iv) and (v)(ii), domestic transportation, harboring, encouraging/inducing, or aiding/abetting, the basic statutory maximum term of imprisonment is 5 years, unless the offense was committed for commercial advantage or private financial gain, in which case the maximum term of imprisonment is 10 years.

Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 274
Any individual or entity that “encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law” is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment.-

NCT amazes me wrote on Mar 5, 2008 1:08 PM:It amazes me how the NCT's will cencore any fact about illegal immigration that is blogged , but can allow a blogger to make comments about Mike Spencer and his wife, it is immoral that NCT behaves this way. BTW, we know who that blogger is and your comments about Mike and his wife are getting old. I'm amazed you didn't plug your anti-minuteman web site too.

Nafta not working wrote on Mar 5, 2008 1:11 PM:That 2 million should be spent on the American homeless, not the farm workers. We already subsidize the farmers and the rest is all profit. Because we do sudsidize the farmers the poor Mexicans from Mexico migrate here because American tomotoes are cheaper. Mexico needs to help and subsidize its farmers. NAFTA isn't working and is the cause of illegal migration.

Just asking??? wrote on Mar 5, 2008 1:13 PM:"A trio of anti-illegal immigration advocates" Is this the same thing as the three stooges? Actually they are anti-Latino illegal immigrants. Lets face it there are illegal immigrants from other races and nationalities. Why does this "trio" just focus on the Latinos?

Carol wrote on Mar 5, 2008 1:17 PM:Schwilk is wrong. Carlsbad is in the housing business: low income, section 8, fees for developers, planning department, etc. This is mitigation money from ag land.
P.S. To NCTimes editors: you put in my comment, then pulled it, and then left a response. How shortsighted. How censored. How directional your editorial
review board is.
We only hope that Carlsbad is not as mean a city as Escondido, and that they don't give the minutemen the time of day.

Karl wrote on Mar 5, 2008 2:23 PM:To "To Bob wrote on Mar 5, 2008 12:11 PM:How is this falling on the taxpayers. Read the article and then comment." If the money wasn't spent on this housing project it would end up in the general fund with the benefits of these dollars going to legal tax paying citizens.

???? wrote on Mar 5, 2008 2:30 PM:The idea sounds good on the surface, but does anyone really believe this "non-profit organization" will be diligent when checking people's "paperwork"? All but the most naive know how easy it is for illegals to obtain and use phony drivers licenses, SS cards, and other "paperwork". And we know how the Catholic churches have provided sanctuary to illegal laborers and others in the past.

Neil wrote on Mar 5, 2008 2:31 PM:Nice article, Ms. Henry. It's nice to see the concerns of some of the taxpaying citizens get front-page central.
I still question that the non-profit organization will use all the legal tools and requirements to check for legal residency (since they have a track record of never doing so in the past), and it still doesn't answer the question of not consulting the taxpayers when the Council's own APPROVING analysis said that:
"Construction of a homeless shelter is not an eligible project for Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fees. However, Catholic Charities has indicated the funding it requests would go directly to the farmworker housing component only." A preposterous justification by any elected official dealing with their fudiciary responsibilities for their constituents' tax dollars. And believe me, Mitigation Fees are the taxpayers money, even though they did not come directly out of all the taxpayer's pockets.

Doing gooooood wrote on Mar 5, 2008 3:02 PM:NCT, almost there! Now people, google H2A and read under housing. -

Alice wrote on Mar 5, 2008 3:10 PM:Mitigation fees are paid by builders and developers in exchange for permits. Some might call this extortion. Some might call it the business of a city or county governing body. They usually come with strings attached as to how they are spent.
I for one would rather see housing, toilets and showers for the people who pick strawberries or tomatoes. It is certainly more sanitary than living in a canyon.

Hatch in Escondido wrote on Mar 5, 2008 3:48 PM: Carol, with all due respect, Schwilk is not all wrong.
And, as I posted above, the city could be in legal hot water with the federal government, if they know that money they collect, by whatever means, is used for illegal activity.
Now I prefer to wait and see if the shelter houses illegals. If not- no harm no foul. If they do, I and others will file a federal complaint.
BTW, people living in the United States illegally are not elligible for Section 8 housing.
Of course, a city can be in any kind of "business" it likes- as long as it doesn't derive a profit. A surplus is OK.
If your comment was censored, I would say shame on NCT. Unless it contains personal attacks or foul language, that is simply wrong.

Hatch in Escondido wrote on Mar 5, 2008 3:53 PM: Just Asking, you are asking what many people are asking. But, the answer is not what everyone wants to hear, judging by their reaction.
The Minutemen are not against Latinos. There are many Latinos that are Minutemen, just as there are Minutemen of other races.
The Minutemen are against open borders, an unchecked flood of people entering out country illegally, and people that enter illegally that intend to do harm to our country.
The Minutemen are against laws being broken. They are not violent racists. They are every day people with jobs, families and lots of bills, like anyone else. They also take the law seriously.

Hatch in Escondido wrote on Mar 5, 2008 3:57 PM: Alice, do you also approve of below-minimum wages? Do you also approve of people that break the law by being here illegally AND be given a pass from prosecution daily?
If you drive through a red light and are given a ticket that carries with it a heavy fine, shouldn't you be given a pass from paying the fine, even though no one was hurt?
Are we, the law abiding citizens, not being allowed the same treatment under the law by being held responsible for our actions while others are not?

Hatch in Escondido wrote on Mar 5, 2008 4:13 PM: Doing gooooood, thanks for mentioning H2A Housing. Housing is required for certain ag workers. Good point.

But the US Department of Labor still requires that, as of December 15, 2007, "SWAs must verify the employment eligibility of any
worker referred to an employer in response to an H-2A job order." That includes immigration status.

Employers simply cannot get around the Immigration & Nationality Act

MARY wrote on Mar 5, 2008 4:15 PM:NO ONE SAID THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE ILLEGAL THEY SAID IT WAS FOR FARM WORKERS SHELTER (NOT AN ILLEGAL SHELTER). GET IT STRAIGHT ALL YOU RACIST OUT THERE. THERE ARE FARM WORKERS WHO ARE LEGAL HERE! NOT ALL BROWN SKINNED PEOPLE ARE ILLEGAL.

Roberto1 wrote on Mar 5, 2008 4:16 PM:Mitigation fees are just that....they mitigate i.e. offset impacts. With that said, mitigation fees are necessary and are not taxes. Negative impacts should be mitigated by those who bring development, negative change such business in a rual environment etc....If I lived there, I would want all negative impacts mitigated to a level of insignifice....Some please explain this to the xenophobic Mini-men

to Problem Solved wrote on Mar 5, 2008 4:32 PM: Yeah, and I thought the Minutemen were concerned about "illegals", but this agency is checking to make sure everyone is legal, so what's their concern? Has SDMM been fooling us, or are they branching out to supervise how cities spend their money? Or is it the Mexicans after all?

Hey Alice ! wrote on Mar 5, 2008 4:40 PM:Be my guest! YOU pay for their housing. And while your at it, pay for mine! You socialists are a riot! Why on earth does the city owe these illegal aliens anything except a one-way trip home to their families south of the border. The Farmers need to use the H2A visa program to bring in their migrant workers instead of paying illegals under the table and having them live in canyons. The city has no right to spend $2 Mil. in city funds on illegals or any other homeless people. If Catholic Charities is really so charitible, why are they paying for the housing? Oh, that's right, they owe tens of millions to victims of child molestation! Sick world we live in.....

Nanchi wrote on Mar 5, 2008 4:47 PM:What a cold bunch of bloggers! These workers pick our food - let's help the charities house them. Workers who pick my family's food living in unsanitary conditions turns my stomach. Besides, the vast majority have papers, and have done this necessary menial labor which Americans won't do, for years. Maybe the Minutemen should quit their griping and go pick strawberries.

Pluto wrote on Mar 5, 2008 4:50 PM: Gotta laugh at Minuteman @7:54am who pretends to be concerned about people "who owe their loyalties to a foreign country" (Minuteman) and dave @12:42pm who says "Only people that have an unwavering allegiance to this country should be considered for immigration." I think every immigrant has some love of and allegiance to their home country. Most immigrants come here because this is where the money is. They don't have an undying love of or allegiance to the U.S. Many hate the U.S. because of what it has done to their beloved home country. Who are you guys trying to kid, or do you really believe in fairy tales?

susan wrote on Mar 5, 2008 4:56 PM:these blogs and the hate that comes thru on them make me spiritually, physically and emotionally ill to know that people get such a kick and feel such a right and responsiblity to condemn those with the least among us - shame, shame, shame - your rewards will be waiting for you on judgement day ...

susan wrote on Mar 5, 2008 4:58 PM:catholic charities and other fait-based began raking in funds w/ george bush's lead on faith-based....surprise!!!

To Karl wrote on Mar 5, 2008 5:22 PM:In "To Bob's" defense, regardless of who benefits from it, the taxpayers are not being asked to contribute to the fund. That money comes from business who are eating up parts of our natural landscape.

Carlsbad Construction Worker wrote on Mar 5, 2008 5:42 PM:Do you really think that this is going to help anything? First of all a quarter of the workers who build the new facility will be illegal. Second, this idiotic idea will not solve the problem of illegals sleeping, lighting fires to cook, stealing our bikes, crapping and bathing in our lagoons. This shelter is only going to bring more illgals here because we for some reason take care of them. Why dont we help homeless vets?
WAY TO GO MINUTEMEN!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!

american 1st wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:02 PM:why is carlsbad paying for the shelter, when the catholic church is one of ( if not the) wealthiest religion on planet earth, they want a shelter, let them buid it, BTW I was raised catholic, and left a long time a go, let the farmowners pay for the shelter....

Madam Patriot wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:06 PM:This is just another way for big business to have someone other than themselves help pay for their labor pool which almost certainly contains a large portion of illegal workers who probably live in the canyons due to the high cost of housing. The fact is most of these workers send home a good portion of their ‘paychecks’ that could be otherwise used on housing.

If the employer (grower) is hiring legal workers using H-2A visas which are issued only to the agriculture industry, the employer must provide free housing to all workers who are not reasonably able to return to their homes or residences the same day. (Living in a border county, the legal workers should be able to return home each day.) Additionally, such housing must be inspected and approved according to appropriate standards. The housing provided by the employer must meet all of the Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) standards that were set forth at CFR 1910.142 or the full set of standards at 654.404-645.417. Which gets back to the question of why would a grower want to meet these standards or provide anything to their ‘employees’ that can be provided by the government (taxpayer) for free?

I have no problem building shelters for the homeless; I do have a problem if we are providing shelters and services for people who are here illegally. These workers are the employer’s problem and should remain an employer problem. If the employer paid better we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. Multiply this by all the employers with illegal workers and you will come to the realization that it is the taxpayer who ends up paying for everything and the employers who reap the profits.

Pete wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:14 PM:Even if the corrupt Mexican Government paid for this housing it would still be unacceptable to Americans. This protest is not about anyone being racist nor about Latino bashing (Shelter) but it is about "America for LEGAL Americans" regardless of their ethic origins.

white legal farmworker wrote on Mar 5, 2008 6:52 PM:I work hard; I can pick many tomatoes, but I am white through many generations. Can't afford rent in Carlsbad anymore, so can I move into this free home? If I don't have to rent an apt in Carlsbad, the low wages will be BIG wages. I mean I'd save $1000 a month for rent, $80 for lights and gas, and so forth. And the Charities might even give me a newspaper in English, maybe a TV to watch too. What a deal, but is it just for immigrants or would they accept my American ID too? I can pick strawberries with the best of them even though I don't speak Spanish. I'll not send any wages to Mexico either.

???? wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:18 PM:Pluto at 4:50PM says "Many (immigrants) hate the U.S. because of what it has done to their beloved home country". Just what has the U.S. done to Mexico? Also, what has Mexico done for it's people? CCW at 5:42 has a good point. "Why don't we help homeless vets"? These are the guys we should be helping rather than immigrants who hate the U.S.

Come on! wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:27 PM:$2,000,000,000 to house 100 possible illegal aliens to work on farms?? This money will come from the buyers of the homes whose prices have been increased to build "affordable housing" for possible illegal aliens. How crazy is this! If the Catholic church wants the housing let the church and farm owners should pay for the housing, not the home buyer. The farmer should pay a living wage to the workers so they can provide their own housing.

First of all wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:31 PM:No one sad these workers where illegal. BUT since we have read over and over again about how many illegal have fake documents, we can be assured that we already know that may agencies look the other way. So, to say that some illegals may slip through the cracks and end up being housed in this facility would not be to far fetched. I believe that many have good reason to suspicious after all that has been going on with illegals. With many crimes, rapes , drunk driving, gangs and graffiti where are all a little weary these days.

Political Hacking wrote on Mar 5, 2008 7:45 PM:Just in time for rerun season on tv -- the Minutemen wreck havoc with another city. This time it's Carlsbad, not Escondio. How much will it cost this time? All that money Esondido spent on their "housing ordinance" would have filled a lot of the potholes.

kelly wrote on Mar 5, 2008 8:38 PM:LISTEN.
Mexico is a HELLHOLE of corruption, drugs, organized crime ---where gangs and the Mexican Mafia rule.
Do you truly believe they leave all this behind at the border!? THAT's the real problem.
want that mentality in the USA? Why?

Gary wrote on Mar 5, 2008 8:38 PM:Isn't the Catholic Church one of the places, besides the mexican consulate, who teach the illegal aliens how to get all their benefits (basically how to steal from the American citizens). I'm sure they won't be doing such a great job of checking immigration status. This can be very sticky for Carlsbad.

To Pluto the red head wrote on Mar 5, 2008 8:51 PM:So you think its good to house migrants that hate the US on the tax payers dime. See what liberal colleges have done to indoctrinate left wingers like you. Research has shown the next step in indoctrination is communism. Is that where you are headed Pluto? Or is Pluto the planet you live on? Print that Pluto, print it!

Go Kelly Go kelly wrote on Mar 5, 2008 8:52 PM:Could not have said it better myself!!!!

Minutemen Bashing? wrote on Mar 5, 2008 8:56 PM:At least the Minutemen don't surrender to political correctness and have the courage to ask and confront the real questions and issues, while everyone else sits at home complaining about illegal immigration but do nothing about it!

Jenny wrote on Mar 5, 2008 9:06 PM:Political correct my sweet... This is fear mongering and hateful. Takes the focus off Iraq, the war we're losing, and the economy that's tanking out, and puts it on immigration. Now that's a way to solve a problem. We have enough money and ability to house everyone in this country, we just don't have the political will.
Schwilk and his kind are not courageous, they're using bullying tactics to pit one group against another. Don't be fooled again.

Minuteman to Pluto wrote on Mar 5, 2008 9:39 PM:Newsflash to Pluto @4:50pm… Before becoming a citizen, an immigrant, a real legal immigrant, has to swear allegiance to the United States and renounce all loyalties to foreign powers. If you hate the US, swearing an oath of allegiance to the US is a moral and legal crime, and you have absolutely no business setting foot within our borders. As to those who complain about what the US "has done to their beloved home country", I've been to a number of these beloved home countries. And each one has about as much justification in whining about the USA as your 12 year old has in whining about doing his homework. The problems of these "beloved home countries" are overwhelmingly of their own making; the USA could pour our entire GNP into any given third world country, and they'd be right back where they were, or worse, in a year or two.

Timmy wrote on Mar 5, 2008 10:06 PM:I think that $2mil. would be better spent making sure our english speaking children get to keep their teachers and their education.

Robert wrote on Mar 5, 2008 11:10 PM:They can say the workers have to have documents; however, they all HAVE papers. They are just FAKE papers!

dave from oceanside wrote on Mar 6, 2008 6:41 AM:Pluto, I believe in what will keep this country and us it's citizens prosperous and strong.
Allowing foreigners into this country to work still requires that person to be processed.
Signs of disease and connections to know terrorist groups need to examined before entry into this country.
I don't ever want to see 911 happen again in this country, and open border philosophy is the perfect avenue for disaster.
Fairy tales can be found in Disneyland, Pluto.

Susan wrote on Mar 6, 2008 6:56 AM:The reality is that farmworkers legal or illegal get paid the minimum wage and most of the time much more than that. Should we also provide housing for all workers that make $10 per hour or less? As for the illegal workers, housing them only enables them to send more money back to their home country. Most of the time these people make that choice rather than pay for housing.

Stop the Racism wrote on Mar 6, 2008 12:43 PM:I am sad to see the hate that is expressed in most of these comments. I am sure many of you would like to hurt the farmworkers. Shame on you and shame on you for your racist remarks. These remarks remind me of the KKK.

Olaf wrote on Mar 6, 2008 1:29 PM:Same old tired arguments here. Illegal immigrants will not return home and we as a country will not round them up (to german for us)... we need a route for these immigrants to come here and work and then return home if they want. We can keep track of who comes here and also help the indutries that supposedly Americans won't do (I have a sneaky feeling we Americans won't do it for the slave wage they pay). But big business republicans like those low wage earners even when speaking out the other side of their mouths saying go home illeagals... The Dem's aren't much better because they won't even talk about closing the border and they LOVE the votes they get (ask Hillary) so we can talk all day long but if you don't take away the companies who hire them and you don't build a fence then it will remain the same. So these people who work at least in C-bad should have a place other then a box in a canyon to live in. Sorry!

to stop the racism wrote on Mar 6, 2008 1:37 PM:What racist about not wanting to foot the bill for farm workers . We have homeless American battered women and children. And we are going to build housing for migrants so they don't have to pay rent, so they can send more American dollars home, to continue to weeken the American dollar. Immigration, especially illegal immigration is killing this countries economics. That will effect even you my dear.

Gardener wrote on Mar 6, 2008 3:25 PM:Let's just get rid of the tomato fields and the strawberry fields. Too much corruption for such auxiliary products. I personally grow my own and rather enjoy them, but I could certainly live without them.

Julie- Mexican-American wrote on Mar 6, 2008 3:32 PM:If the city council is going to fund this shelter regardless of protests, than the shelter should be used to house our homeless teens who also sleep in canyons and on the streets because they cannot stay in conventional facilities.One non-profit program(Standup for Kids)whose Grant(used for providing teens w/basic needs- not overnight shelter)is being decreased.If Catholic Charities wants to provide shelter for "humanitarian reasons" then they should lean towards helping our neglected youth!!

The ONLY argument wrote on Mar 6, 2008 4:44 PM:the pathetic open border cadre have is to hurl insults. It's the only argument the ever have. No matter how many times it is pointed out to them that, especially in boder states like CA, the VAST majority of illegal aliens ARE Hispanic. The day laborers ARE Hispanic. The strawberry pickers and agri business workers ARE Hispanic. How is the POINT that many, many, many of them are ALSO illegal anti Hispanic? The arguments are just too ridiculous. How about we just CUT benefits to anyone who is NOT a citizen including their children? Just cut ALL benefits and revoke the automatic citizenship of children born in the US of illegals? That WOULD affect ALL illegal aliens, no matter what nationality what would be the argument then? BTW, Latino/Hispanic is NOT a race!!! Crying "racist" only makes your argument all the more ridiculous!!!

Julie- Mexican-American wrote on Mar 6, 2008 4:46 PM:In addition to the homeless teens part of the 2 mill should be used for our schools! Not housing farm workers!

Hey One Question wrote on Mar 6, 2008 4:51 PM:Apparently, unbeknownst to you, American citizens do have rights to enter any public institution AND the right of free speech. ILLEGAL ALIENS do not have those rights. Your hypocrisy is glaring!!! Illegal aliens, in your eyes, have a right to break into this country, disrespect our laws, rip off the tax payer, pay no taxes, send BILLIONS home but Jeff and Mike don't have a right to attend a Carlsbad CC meeting? Only in the mind of an anti American, open border activist.

Strange wrote on Mar 6, 2008 5:05 PM:I just wonder... If 6% if all illegals are european, how come 6% of all news articles are about illegal Europeans? 9% are from Asia and 24% are from Central America. There are also 75,000 illegal Canadians. Sure, a little more than half of illegals are from Mexico, but there is a disproportionate amount of coverage on Mexico. I've never read an article on illegal Asians or Europeans.

I just read this article wrote on Mar 6, 2008 5:12 PM:and then the comments over and over. NOWHERE in the article do Schwilk or Spencer mention Hispanic or Latino workers. The ONLY people mentioning it on this blog are obvious open border with Mexico (Hispanic) advocates. These people scream that Schwilk and the Minutemen are anti Latino, but can NEVER provide proof. THEY stir up hate in the ILLEGAL Latino community by insisting that the Minutemen are anti Latino/Hispanic. It's just not true. The ONLY hate I have ever seen is from the ILLEGAL Latino community, afraid that the gravy train that is America is coming to an end. Legal immigrants, from all countries including various Latino countries are not hateful or afraid, they are Americans. The ONLY "communities" that protest are the ILLEGAL "communities" and the majority of those ARE Hispanic/Latino.

dave from oceanside wrote on Mar 6, 2008 5:27 PM:Julie: Nice thought, however the Catholic church wouldn't get any donations from those kids on Sunday when they pass out the collection plate.
They know to focus on their core customer base the Latino Christians. Sad but true.

Roberto1 wrote on Mar 6, 2008 5:30 PM:Good point strange...Also the xenophobes don't offer any reasonable logical solutions. they throw numbers about cost without any proof....there are many cost associated with migration..jail, medical, schooling etc...but without weighing the benefits...work done in USA instead of somewhere else, other jobs created because of infrastructure etc.....finding a solution isn't easy and the same ole racist-xenophobic diatribe is worthless.

EscoWatchDog wrote on Mar 6, 2008 6:15 PM:I fully support a shelter for farmworkers. They are making the Carlsbad business owners rich by selling their strawberries for a costly price. Why not care for their employees? They don't make enough to live on their own, especially not in San Diego.

RG wrote on Mar 6, 2008 6:26 PM:"Strange" at 5:05PM is wondering why there is a disproportionate amount of coverage on Mexico. Well let me help you. Go to the San Diego Sheriff's web site and click on the county's 10 most wanted fugitives and see why. There are no Asians, Europeans, or Canadians on the list. Get it?

Roberto1 wrote on Mar 6, 2008 9:10 PM:Sure I get it RG....And I say lets get the minute men to pick the strawberries.

EscoWatchDog wrote on Mar 6, 2008 9:57 PM:Why does the minutemen gang (I literally mean gang - those thugs) support homelessness? Minutemen are so hateful and anti-American.

Robert wrote on Mar 6, 2008 11:07 PM:Since when is wanting laws obeyed and illegals out of the country anti-American. Escowatchdog is really showing its color--and it is definitely not RED,WHITE and BLUE.

YourChoice wrote on Mar 7, 2008 12:10 AM:Robert, spoken like a true believer. So which laws would you want enforced? The ones that declared people from Africa to be property? Ones that required all Jews illegal and subject to arrest?

I love you law-abiding citizens. Especially when the laws can be used to reinforce your prejudices and hatreds.

Roberto1 wrote on Mar 7, 2008 12:37 AM:What does deporting illegal have to do with housing farmworkers...no, its not red, white and blue...its xenophobia.

RG wrote on Mar 7, 2008 2:11 PM:Won't work Roberto1. If the Minutemen picked the strawberries you would find something racist and xenophobic about that too. Oh, and did you take the time to check the 10 Most Wanted list?

Roberto1 wrote on Mar 7, 2008 4:02 PM:No I didn't bother to check the 10 most wanted...did you? Again, who will pick the strawberries?

DFIM wrote on Mar 7, 2008 6:30 PM:Yeah I'll really miss my 3-pak overpriced strawberries for the season. NOT. Get rid of the fields.

Roberto1 wrote on Mar 8, 2008 12:35 AM:Import all fruits and vegetables...way to flex gumby!

Roberto1 wrote on Mar 8, 2008 6:10 PM:Strawberry fields forever!

Shell Answer Man wrote on Mar 9, 2008 4:47 AM:Join the 21st century and modernize agriculture. No one should have to do stoop labor to pick the friggin' strawberries. This fruit-picken' argument is old and tired. Who do you think you are still kidding? If this was about migrant farmworkers only, a valid temp-worker program would be in existence. This is just a diversion. I grow my own Victory garden as have my ancesters here for several hundred years.

Roberto1 wrote on Mar 9, 2008 8:49 AM:Shell Answer Man you are dilusional....somebody still has to work...ya can't put a puter on it.

WhoWhat wrote on Mar 10, 2008 7:22 PM:It is WRONG for the taxpayers to carry the cost of the farmworkers/gangsters/criminals/terrorists. We dont really know who they are do we. If the growers want cheap labor let them pay. But I caution them, with ID checks and employer penalties right around the corner they better check those ID's carefully.

Roberto wrote on Mar 10, 2008 9:20 PM:Again, these arr mitigation fees....Not taxes!

jsc wrote on Mar 10, 2008 9:33 PM:I worked for social services for 10 years. I have referred many illegal alien clients to Catholic charities over the years. I don't know Catholic charities track record re confirming legal status for housing projects. But I do know that they will do almost anything to help an illegal alien stay here, get benefits, etc. I have been trained by ICE to be able to identify phony documents. I also have access to the SAVE and IEVs computer checks to confirm immigration status and SSN validity. Does Catholic Charities use SAVE/IEVS to confirm status? BTW a white U.S. citizen female girlfriend of mine has picked crops in the Central Valley for 2 years. This shelter really only benefits the Agribusiness/farm owners. The farmworkers will be here whether or not we provide them housing. One point to ponder: should we provide all low income Americans who work for fast food restaurants & other minimum wage jobs free housing? I sure would have loved it when I was younger. There is only so much money to go around; I think this $2 million could go to a better use.

Jose wrote on Mar 10, 2008 10:34 PM:We have plenty of people who are in jails that can bend over and pick strawberries and tomatos. Get them off their lazy butts and have them start picking.
So much for the checking of ID's, we know that doesn't work. Aiding and abetting is a very serious crime, especially if the city is footing the bill for this criminal act.

Roberto1 wrote on Mar 11, 2008 1:00 AM:LOL!....again, mitigation fees are not taxes and can only be used for their intended purpose...to JSC...and his "I" "I" "I"....comment maybe you should join jose in ... picking strawberries.

CC wrote on Mar 11, 2008 7:02 PM:And it's intended purposes is not to harbor illegal aliens!

jsc wrote on Mar 12, 2008 8:11 PM:to CC. The point I was making is that Catholic Charities may or may not be able or willing to confirm the validity of work permits and alien residency cards and SSNs. The 2nd point I made was that I have had close friends who have picked crops--and they were U.S. citizens. The 3rd point is: I understand the need for agricultural worker housing; they are paid $ 8- $10/hr + incentive if they pick above a certain amount. But many county workers start at $8 - $10 hr, no incentive, and they don't receive housing subsidies. Nor do fast food restaurant employees, retail salespersons and others, citizen or alien, who work for minimum wage receive subsidized or free housing.
And I still maintain that there are probably other acceptable uses for the money in that mitigation fund that might better serve all of us. Can anyone provide/publish