NORTH COUNTY -- One day after Escondido's City Council voted to ban landlords from renting property to illegal immigrants in the city, officials in neighboring cities had mixed reactions over the contentious decision and what it could mean to their communities.

Council members in Vista and San Marcos said Thursday that they understood the frustration over illegal immigration that drove the measure. Some called Escondido's ban unenforceable. Others said they feared an exodus of illegal immigrants from Escondido moving to their towns. None said they had plans to enact similar ordinances.

"I think it's too soon to tell what effect it's going to have on anybody," including other nearby cities, said Vista Mayor Morris Vance. Vista recently passed its own law to require employers who hire day laborers to register with the city.

Vance said, however, that he was doubtful the ordinance could be enforced.

Frank Lopez, the city of Vista's only Latino councilman, said he empathized with both sides in the illegal immigration debate, but felt Escondido's ordinance was "the wrong way to tackle it."

"I don't think it will hurt Escondido's image," he added. "But I think the three who voted for it, the next time they run, they're going to have to work awful hard."

Lopez said he wouldn't consider an Escondido-inspired renting law in Vista.

Some Escondido council members who voted for the ban said they did so because they felt the federal government was not doing enough to curb illegal immigration into the country. U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, said he was doing his job trying to push through tougher immigration reforms.

He added that he tried to "minimize" his comments on how local governments are trying to deal with the issue.

"As compared to National City," he said, referring to the city's recent decision to declare itself an immigrant sanctuary, "whether you agree with what they are doing or not, at least (Escondido is) trying not to make the problem worse."

Under Escondido's rental ban, the city would require landlords allegedly renting to illegal immigrants to provide documents proving the tenants' immigration status. The city's business license division would verify the documents with federal immigration agencies. Complaints based on race, ethnicity or national origin would be discarded, according to the ordinance.

Any landlord found to be renting to illegal immigrants would face having their business license suspended, and repeat offenders would face misdemeanor charges, carrying penalties of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.

The measure passed by a 3-2 margin, and will come up for a second reading on Oct. 18. If enacted, the law would take effect 30 days later.

Some elected officials in North County are bracing for any fallout.

"I feel strongly in my gut that these people will relocate somewhere nearby where they can afford to live, and that's likely to be San Marcos and Vista," said Vista Councilman Bob Campbell.

"My fear is that if the rents are such that people can't afford their own place, they're going to find someone else to bunk in with," he added. "And then, we'll have to deal the overcrowding."

Immediately to the west, at least one San Marcos leader lamented Escondido's decision, saying it was the wrong approach to dealing with the region's immigration issues.

San Marcos Councilwoman Pia Harris-Ebert said she felt Escondido had overstepped its bounds as a municipal government and enacted legislation that it probably won't be able to enforce.

"It certainly makes Escondido noteworthy all over California," Harris-Ebert said. "I'm disturbed by that, and disturbed we are neighbors to a city that feels it is their role to do the federal government's job. Maybe they should secede from the union."

Staff writer Edward Sifuentes contributed to this report. Contact staff writer David Fried at (760) 740-5416 or dfried@nctimes.com.