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

[Louweegie272]

What I find odd about the article is that another country is allowed to issue ID cards to it's citizens who are here in America illegally? How is this allowed to occur?

[John]

The Mexican counselates are doing much more than issuing Mexican IDs. They are aiding and abetting illegal immigration, and referring illegals to taxpayer funded services. Additionally, the Mexican government has now allowed congressional representation for their citizens illegally living in the U.S. They are making parts of the U.S. into Mexican states within the U.S. Thank you Democrats....

[M Baldonado]

I posted awhile back but it seems it wasnt accepted. Let me try again..

This reminds me of the 15th century conquistadores who invaded foreign lands in the name of the cross; only that this time, no shots are fired.

A diplomatic post was put up without approval by the host country and according to another news, they told ICE not to enforce immigration laws while they are doing this thing in the island... I just cannot believe it! I dont care if its a Mexican, German, British, Japanese, etc consulate but this is direct intrusion and disrespect to our sovereignty.

[Carmen]

I haven't been there in over 14 years. Obviously back then all this was not happening. I am suprised by this. Our wonderful government. Not too long ago police found a BIG shipment hidden of cocaine/marijuana. Thanks for this note because I will not return. Plus I am boycotting California anyway!!! Your loss California......

[Carlos Jobim]

What arrogance on the part of the Mexican government to think they have a right to aid and abet lawbreakers in a foreign country

A prime example of the corrupt nature of Hispanic culture.

[Bruce]

Good job Rohrabacher. A politician with some guts.

[Jeff]

Again, look who make the racist comments. What is this vile "silly politician your agenda is as pale as your skin!". If "browns" hate being around white, black, and yellow, why not go someplace else? Oh yeah, you came here to leach off what said whites, blacks, and yellows have created. After this is turned into a cess pool, where to go next? Canada? The North Pole?

[Alexander]

What a pathetic waste of the taxpayer dime by Rohrbacher, a notorious immigrant baiter. The Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles' "mobile" consulate existed for only ONE day in Catalina to issue passports and matricula consular cards to Mexican nationals living and or working there. The U.S. State Department conducts similar outreach providing similar services to U.S. nationals living abroad. Both countries do this under the Vienna Convention, which Rohrbacher apparently doesn't even know exists. This is the kind of crude treatment diplomats of foreign nations ought to expect from our unwashed congressional representatives in the anti-immigrant Know Nothing wing of the GOP. But immigration is good issue for Rohrbacher to massage as he faces re-election. It's THE biggest issue for a certain ethnicity of people unable to accept the changing demographics of the American West and Southwest. You have to wonder what ails a man's soul when, in a Tom Tancredo moment, he can become so apoplectic at a college for establishing a scholarship for poor illegal immigrants. Ronald Reagan would be ashamed of him. It's astonishing that Californians have elected such a knuckledragger with such an infamous history of keeping company with the likes of people like Jack Abramoff and various radical Islamists, some of whom are still serving time in jail.

[RANDY Hunt]

Hey, What's the deal with the Catalina Island Company? They sound dangerous. Whose side are they on anyway? Too much chewing gum can rot your mind....

[jack]

God bless Rohrabacher! He has the courage, unlike many of our elected officials, to stand up and do the right thing. California, even more than most of our great nation, IS and ALWAYS HAS BEEN a sanctuary - for LEGAL immigrants from anywhere in the world. Anybody here illegally is a criminal by definition; they do not deserve to be here, they do not deserve any social services, and they should be deported immediately. They are a hideous slap in the face to those millions of people that are standing in line, waiting patiently and following the rules to come here legitimately - and those are the people that will be educated, speak English, add value to our society, and be proud to fly the AMERICAN flag when they get here. Anybody that doesn't understand this is an embarrassment, and doesn't deserve to be called an American.

[Jim]

Good for the Congressman. Catalina is part of Los Angeles County and this county has suffered a total invasion of millions of illegals.
The Mexican government stand on this is horrible.
President Obama should be ashamed of himself for having had the Mexican president to a state visit in the White House recently.
I am a Democrat, but this crap has to stop. Enough is enough.
And, look out Los Angeles, the newly installed archbishop is a huge supporter of illegals. The Vatican moved him from Texas to L.A. so that he could continue the illegal invasion of Mexicans into Los Angeles.

[The Bell]

There really seems to be a general race to the bottom amongst Republicans these days. Not to say that Democrats have been setting the bar any higher than they can get away with either but, having created their abysmal "Joe The Plumber" mythology, it seems the extreme right wing cadre of the GOP is now hopelessly intoxicated on its own fumes. Which are not very fragrant, or necessarily even human ones.

[K.E.]

Well, where's the INS in all this? Don't they know what's going on over there?

[Alexander]

What a pathetic waste of the taxpayer's dime, although I guess it's to be expected from a such a notorious grandstanding immigrant baiter. The Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles' "mobile" consulate existed for only ONE day in Catalina to issue passports and matricula consular cards to Mexican nationals living and or working there. The U.S. State Department conducts similar outreach providing similar services to U.S. nationals living abroad. Both countries do this under the Vienna Convention, which Rohrbacher seems to not even know exists. This is the kind of crude treatment foreign diplomats can now expect from our unwashed congressional representatives inhabiting the Know Nothing anti-immigrant wing of the GOP, such as Rohrbacher, who counts among his friends such reprobates as Jack Abramoff, Tom Tancredo, and Barbara Coe, and various radical Islamists, some of whom are still serving time in jail.

[Teach]

Attack the Mexicans because you are too cowardly to attack the rich and the businesses who hire illegals--and the treasonous politicians who have aided and abetted the problem. Where are the RICO investigations of the illegal employers who have made billions on illegal workers?

[Bradwhg]

This would not be an issue if the Mexican government wasn't trying to subvert the laws of this country. When the southern country's government openly advocates it's citizens come here illegally, they are complicit in every border crossing death and family separation. The Mexican government is as much to blame as the greedy employers on this side of the border and pandering American politicians.
What I would like to see is an ICE van parked outside each and every Mexican consulate or following every Mexican consulate mobile unit. If visitors to the consulate are legal, no worries. If not adios amigo.

[Gob Bluth]

Avalon used to be nice! Now there are brown people!

[Miko Azzabara]

I was just in Avalon. Mexicans are invaders..nothing else. Anybody who supports illegal immigration should be brought up on treason charges. Democrats should be ashamed.

[Miko Azzabara]

Why isn't I.C.E. in Catalina doing its job? Why is Obama on the side of illegals instead of the American people. It's a disgrace.

[Warren!!!]

Zuma Hans, your post is a wet dream at best. Everywhere in California where there is sanctury city policy, it is an incubator for grafitti, trash, crime, drugs, gangs, drive byes, hit and runs, rampart teenage pregnancys, over crowded schools and ER'S, welfare and social service abuse, disrespect for the American flag and everything American, your people and kids trashing every store that you go into, it won't be much longer before you have this country looking just like the cess-pool you left in Mexico.

[Josh Ooi]

ICE SHOULD BE THERE TO CHECK ALL EMPLOYEES ON THE ISLAND AND FINE THEM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LIKE WHAT THEY DO TO THE FRENCH RESTAURANT IN SAN DIEGO

[James Jackson]

No, Zuma, Rohrabacher did not sound bellicose, not even belligerant, not confrontational, not even hostile. He simply performed his job as the majority of his constituents elected him to do and want him to do--as a gentleman. Our officials otherwise grow as weak-willed as those in Mexico, and we all know where that has led to this point and fear where it might lead in the future. We will be in severe straits when Mexico's government finally collapses or is taken over by the drug gangs. Polite diplomacy will not work then.

[james]

Zuma, at least Rohrabacher is standing up for America and the people that live here. and not giving in and pandering to illegal alien lawbreakers.

Huh? Rohrabacher has always been against illegal immigration and has fought against amnesty and has fought for border patrol agents Ramos and Compean. so he is not changing because its an election year, hes alaways been that way

[What?]

This country (and especially California) is so upside down it's not funny. When the Mexican consulate can openly aid and abet illegal immigration on US soil, why have any borders or immigration laws at all? Lets just hand everything to Mexico (or any other hypocritical, corrupt, two-bit stink-hole of a nation) and let them screw up this country the same way they've screwed up Mexico. We need more poor, undereducated, mono-lingual, USA-hating, lawless, day laborers, drug smugglers, and welfare cases anyway. These folks will do wonders for us in a competitive world economy (sarcasm).

Politically motivated or not, congratulations to Rohrabacher for having some balls and not bowing to the so-called political/media/business/religious elites, who endlessly elevate illegal immigrants to a protected class in a transparent attempt to eventually gain cheap votes, cheap labor, patronage or the "I'm more compassionate than you" feeling these special interests groups crave. So bored with the interests and well-being of legal US residents, these groups can't be bothered with their concerns or the price they pay for de facto open-borders.

[dana]

Finally, a Politician worth listening to!!!