Rep. Rohrabacher flies to Catalina Island, slams Mexican consulate for aiding illegal immigrants

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) flew by helicopter to Santa Catalina Island on Thursday to personally condemn an effort by the Mexican consulate to offer identification cards to undocumented workers there.

Rohrabacher began his visit with a private, 90-minute breakfast meeting attended by Santa Catalina Island Co. officials, Los Angeles County sheriff’s authorities and Avalon Mayor Bob Kennedy to discuss the matter. By some estimates, as much as 70% of Avalon’s permanent population of 3,000 residents are Spanish-speaking Latinos.

“It was a good meeting. We had a very frank discussion about a national issue,” Rohrabacher said afterward. “This community is a microcosm of the problems in the whole country.”

“America can close its eyes and incrementally allow the country to be dominated by people who are here illegally,” added Rohrabacher, who is running for reelection in November and whose district includes the island. “Where you have illegal immigration, crime and drugs are sure to follow.”

Kennedy, standing nearby, would not go that far.

“We have been labeled a sanctuary city and that is not true,” he said. “But this is not a situation that can be handled by local officials. The problem is national.” 

The Mexican consul’s office first offered the photo identification cards to local illegal immigrant workers   two years ago, setting up shop for a day in the upscale Catalina Island Country Club restaurant. The matricula cards can be used to establish credit, open bank accounts, buy insurance and apply for government services.

The consul’s office was originally scheduled to offer the service again Thursday at the country club.

But all that changed when Rohrabacher on Wednesday informed the restaurant’s owner, the Santa Catalina Island Co., that State Department approval was necessary in order for any service to be provided by a foreign government on its property.

As a result, the company informed the consul’s office that it could no longer operate out of the country club.

The consul’s team of 12 specialists moved a few blocks away to St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church in Avalon.

But their problems were far from over.

At 10 a.m., Rohrabacher and an assistant strode into the church to personally express his concerns, raising eyebrows. Rohrabacher was greeted by Deputy Consul General Juan Carlos Mendoza Sanchez of Los Angeles in the middle of a room where Mexican specialists were typing information into laptop computers from two dozen men and women seeking their services.

But all eyes were on Rohrabacher and Sanchez, who launched into a carefully worded dialogue, expressing strongly opposing opinions.

Standing inches apart, Sanchez told Rohrabacher, “We have a lot of respect for you. At the same time, we have certain responsibilities.”

Rohrabcher responded: “I understand that. But there is a problem in our country; there are too many illegals here.”

“This is not done with any type of belligerency,” Rohrabacher added, referring to his unannounced visit.

“Everyone has their own point of view,” Sanchez said. “We are performing this activity under international law.”

“Well, that will be decided in Washington and Mexico City,” Rohrabacher said.

-- Louis Sahagun, reporting from Avalon

Photo: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) arrives for meetings in Avalon, Santa Catalina Island. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

 

 

Comments

[sailbyme]

I lived in Avalon a little over 10 years ago for 3 years. I went back to visit last summer and couldn't believe what has become of what was once a beautiful island. At least 80% mexican and spanish is the spoken language. Businesses hit hard by the recession have left. We traveled by private boat and some the mexicans I saw working in the restaurants I saw in Vons using their WIC coupons to purchase food. Disgusting. I spoke with some friends there and was told the schools are so bad most of the people leave their kids over town to go to school because the mexicans require bi-lingual classrooms. We left the next morning cutting short a 4 day stay to go to White's and anchor for the remaining time. Avalon is truly a sanctuary city and a disgrace to L.A. county. I will never set foot in Avalon again.

[native]

The Mexican consul’s office first offered the photo identification cards to local illegal immigrant workers two years ago, setting up shop for a day in the upscale Catalina Island Country Club restaurant. The matricula cards can be used to establish credit, open bank accounts, buy insurance and apply for government services.

Government Services without paying taxes?
did they miss a step?

[NELLY]

'slams mexican consulate' no way... "I understand that. But there is a problem in our country; there are too many illegals here.”
all he did was 'tell' the Consul General how he opposed what they were doing. No one cares! Still, the Consulate General was being respectful over his retarded remark. Seriously, get over it you have nothing better to do than follow some Mexican Consulate to a church to let them know how you oppose what they are doing???!!! get real.

[Chris Bieber]

Dana was too busy fighting illegal immigration to remember the "good old days" when Dana and his stalwart libertarian friends, after being purged/quit in disgust Young Americans for Freedom and formed a looseknit band of libertarians. They had a convention in AVALON and wrote THEIR Mission Statement..the Avalon Statement...basically a denunciation of force or the threat of force to achieve social or political ends.....GOOD...but..the liberTINE faction unfortunately took over and the "good" libertines LIKE DANA!!! ended up promoting the bohemian libertine LIFESTYLE not educating others OR THEMSELVES on the freedom and freemarket philosophy.....

It is quite sad to see one of the standardbearers of the libertarian movement reduced to a "good" Republican Conservative legislator...Thoreau-ean-like "hacking at the Branches of tyranny"..whilst the rest of us(FEW) "Strike the Root" ie Government Controls and Regimentation.....

I wish Dana would get back to his Rothbard, Mises, LeFevre and Hayek..NOT regurgitating Michael Steel and Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin.

Chris Bieber
CALYAF State Director 1985-1995

[Verballistic]

I cannot believe there is no outcry about US Customs & Immigration ALLOWING this to happen...Catalina Island is American soil and imagine the outcry of ANY NATION did this on MEXICAN SOIL!!

[Finn McGowan]

The Mexican consul is doing its job, same as the US consul would do for US Citizens in Mexico. From our Mexican embassy website:

"The United States Government has no higher responsibility than to serve and protect its citizens, including those who reside or are temporarily abroad. The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit provides prompt, courteous, and efficient services to United States Citizens and other clients, consistent with U.S. laws and regulations.

"The ACS Unit in Mexico City provides a wide range of services to American citizens traveling or residing in Mexico City, including applications for passports, registration of citizens living in or traveling in Mexico, information on voter’s registration, notarial services for documents to be used in the United States and certain emergency services relating to deaths, arrests and temporary destitution. U.S. citizens in Mexico are, of course, subject to Mexican laws and procedures. "

So our embassy covers American citizens who don't have passports, who have been arrested, or who are temporarily destitute. Our consulate makes no effort whatsoever to enforce Mexican laws, merely reminding Americans that Mexican law applies to them while they are there.

[DrZaius_H8s_U2]

Three cheers for Rep. Rohrabacher! It is high time American officials started getting in the Mexican government's face and telling them to back off. Enough with the coddling of these meddling, corrupt hypocrites. They should clean up their own failed nation and stop exporting their problems northward.

[Eye Lander]

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher needs to leave immigration enforcement to the proper authorities and STAY THE HELL OFF OUR ISLAND!

[Joe]

Good for you Dana! We need more politicans like you to stop all this madness! Illegals and their supporters feel entitled to invade our country. whenever someone says something they are called a racist, not true the invaders and their supporters are the true RACISTS as evident by calling everyone else racist!This is a matter of law and economics! Illegals are like a plauge of locust who devour everything in sight and leave nothing for anyone else!

[huh?]

another politician jumping on the bandwagon in an election year...go figure.

“Well, that will be decided in Washington and Mexico City,” Rohrabacher said.

but he'll put his 2cents in to look good on camera. silly politician your agenda is as pale as your skin!

[Judy]

Wow! I remember as a youth, that I wanted to own or lease a home on Catalina! It has never been in my budget. I haven't been to Catalina in 5 years. I vowed not to return because of the number of illegals on the street. My fond memories went down the tubes!I witnessed more drug deals and drunkeness than I ever had before! I have been labeled a racist, a bigot, a white supremacist , and god knows what I'll become in the future. I am none of these things!

[Henryof LA]

I am glad to finally see a public official strong enough to address this issue head on and not acquiesce to the un-american types that do not want to honor the laws of our land.
We have yet to have a President to address the illegal immigrant issue straight on.

[boris8]

Rohrbacher: “Where you have illegal immigration, crime and drugs are sure to follow.” Wow. How about this: "Where you have bankers and hedge fund managers, corruption and lost jobs are sure to follow."

[MartyK]

I like how anytime someone tries to enforce the law against a Mexican citizen, they're automatically racist. Would it be racist to write them a speeding ticket, too? Are there any other laws that shouldn't apply to just hispanics? It's pretty easy to see who the actual racists are.

[mike fletcher]

i've stop going to catalina because the illegals have taken the island over its a shame was a nice place to go

[maandrews]

Dan Rohrabacher represents the overwhelming majority who have had it with Open Borders/La Raza Pandering politicians and Mexico illegally trying to extend its hegemony in the USA through ersatz I.D.s like the "matricula" card to shield illegal aliens invading from south of the border that are "hiding in the shadows" while stealing jobs ,welfare,etc. from America.!
Republicans,Democrats and Independents against Illegal Aliens!!!
Thank You Dana Rohrabacher!!!
ps....and Arizona too!

[mike m]

When are we going to consider that the mexican government has declared war against the United States? Their weapons are not force of arms but force of numbers and they have and continue to invade this country with the intent to change the standard of living and force a third world status in the southwest United States.

It is time for our elected government to perform up to the oath of office they took to protect against ALL ENEMIES foreign & domestic.

[Stewie Rules]

Three years ago, my family and I went to the island for a visit during the week. I took a walk on Crescent Avenue while my wife and kid rested at 7pm. EVERYONE on the waterfront walkway spoke Spanish. These were not tourists, mind you--it was obvious they were illegals. I stuck out like a sore thumb so much so, that a group of Spanish-only-speaking youths started shouting epithets (puto, cabron) and laughed at me. I did NOTHING to provoke them, except, I guess, looked like a tourist. We left the next day and will never return. Poor Catalina.

[JBT]

The problems in Avalon are just like everywhere else, maybe more extreme, but the core problem is the same... its the Economy. The Illegals are a convenient target. There has always been drunks and drugs in Avalon.

[jsa26]

Are you sure it was a representative of the Mexican Consulate and not the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors?

Their agendas are indistinguishable in these matters.

[Don Marshall]

I also spent many,many weekends,holidays and any time I could spare to fish and dive Catalina...not any more. Too many bad experiences with the Illegal population, I now take my thousands of dollars elsewhere.
Zuma...Dana Rohrabacher at least works for the citizens instead of pandering to Illegals, He's got my vote!

[Gary]

And does anyone, other than Obama, actually believe a mere 1,400 National Guard troops along the border will do anything? And they're only temporary at that ! Why pay taxes to our Federal Government for screwing us ?

[John]

Well... I, personally, spent the long weekend in Avalon and found it a perfect getaway as always. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and have made dozens of trips to Catalina over the last thirty years, and I have always had a fantastic time -- including this last weekend. I do find it interesting that whenever people talk about "Illegals" they seem to always be talking about Hispanic and Latin people. And, as a descendent of Irish immigrants I am personally insulted by the Representative's quote that, “Where you have illegal immigration, crime and drugs are sure to follow.” We should all remember that it is possible to have a rational conversation about Illegal Immigration without adding fear-mongering and out-right lies.

[Vague...]

The Mexican consulate is aiding people on US soil, but go look up what they do to illegals in their own country… Bunch of hypocrites…

[c moon]

The government need to deport the Mexican official who is acting like an American government worker. They do not have the authority to give them ID so these illegals will be able to tap into our tax money for their benefit. Get rid of all the illegals and also send the Mexican official home.