Our view: Ordinance to ban day laborers is another ruse in local immigration wars

You've got to hand it to some members of the Escondido City Council. When it comes to illegal immigration, they just don't give up.

First it was a rental ban; then it was a parking ban; now, if Councilman Ed Gallo has his way, people in Escondido -- at least some of them -- will be banned from standing.

Gallo has proposed a city ordinance that would prohibit day laborers (i.e., illegal immigrants) from entering roadways to solicit work. Council members Sam Abed, Marie Waldron and Dick Daniels think the idea makes sense. Once again, Mayor Lori Pfeiler has her doubts.

As with previous proposals of this nature, the supporters of this effort will no doubt deny that it has anything to do with illegal immigration. The rental ban and the parking ban were about overcrowding. The driver's license checkpoints are sold as a way to prevent hit-and-runs. Restrictions on day laborers are being touted as a way to improve public safety and curb public nuisance.

Illegal immigration is a problem best left to the federal government to resolve. Before the council takes on yet another immigration battle, and creates yet more city codes, perhaps Escondido should first try to enforce the plethora of state and local laws that already address public nuisance and safety.