FALLBROOK —— Most of the people who visually responded to an anti-illegal immigration protest in Fallbrook on Saturday morning displayed one of two digits: a thumb pointed up or a middle finger.

It was a fact that didn't escape protester Dottie Dalton, who joined the 45 or so people who lined a block of Main Street. The group rallied against three Fallbrook businesses they say accept a Mexican identification card as valid identification for business transactions.

Protesters said they were angered by banks that accept the Mexican government-issued cards as identification for opening bank accounts or other financial transactions. The event was staged on the sidewalk in the 800 block of South Main Street, near three financial institutions that the protesters said accept the cards.

Citibank officials said this week they do accept the cards, as is permissible by federal law. The president of Community National Bank declined comment this past week, and officials for Western Union could not be reached for comment.

Saturday's event in Fallbrook was generally low-key, marked mostly by passers-by giving curious glances to the signs. Some signs offered up opinions like "Only illegals have matricula consular cards." One sign read "Go home." Other signs tied illegal immigration with terrorism.

During the protest, Fallbrook —— which at any given time has about five patrol cars on the streets —— played host to 50 sheriff's deputies, according to sheriff's Capt. Glenn Revell.

The large presence at the rally was a precaution, he said, in light of disturbances at other similar protests in Southern California in recent weeks.

Revell noted that issues associated with the matricula consular cards "run high with emotion," and a large counter protest "might have been a catalyst for a disturbance."

"We would rather be faulted for having too many resources (at the event) than not enough," Revell said.

Police had little to do at the event, save for the arrest of one man who yelled at the protesters and squealed his wheels as he drove off. A sergeant said the arrest was for disturbing the peace.

Many of the same anti-illegal immigration protesters were demonstrating in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Baldwin Park a few weeks ago when a conflict with counter-protesters got out of hand.

By the end of it, a 66-year-old Murrieta woman ended up laid out on the sidewalk, hit in the forehead by a water bottle she said was hurled by a counter-protester.

No organized counter protest occurred at the Fallbrook event, but the handmade signs did attract those with an opposing view. More than a few people made a point to poke large Mexican flags out of their car windows, slowing down and yelling at the protesters.

Some of the protesters yelled back.

Fallbrook resident Margarita Covarrubias, 30, stopped to confront the protest group.

"It's racism," she said after walking away from a heated exchange with one protester. "We are the ones who do the (agricultural) picking and clean toilets. They want fresh fruits and veggies, but they don't want to come pick them."

She also said that her parents, both from Mexico, are American citizens who possess and use matricula consular cards.

The protest group in Fallbrook was made up more of out-of-towners than residents of Fallbrook and other North County cities. During the event, five or so locals stopped by to sign up and get on the e-mail list to stay apprised of upcoming rallies.

A coalition of grass-roots groups promotes weekly rallies in different locations in Southern California to protest illegal immigration and related issues. One of those responsible for getting the word out is Upland resident Robin Hvidston, who said the host of the protest is always a resident of the area where the event is being staged.

"We go where we are needed, if they call for a protest," she said as she stood on the sidewalk in Fallbrook.

Murrieta resident John Allen said he's been actively protesting illegal immigration since last summer.

"We've tried to get people off their butts and out onto the streets," Allen said of the traveling protests. "The only thing that works to intimidate politicians is seeing angry people on the streets. Writing them letters doesn't do anything."

Contact staff writer Teri Figueroa at (760) 740-3517 or tfigueroa@nctimes.com.