Temecula adopts E-Verify system for business licenses

There were dueling protests, a sea of American flags, and a standing-room only crowd Tuesday night as the Temecula city council took up the issue of illegal immigration.

Menifee Tea Party leader Ted Wegener leads a protest against illegal immigration Tuesday night outside Temecula City Hall. (Toni McAllister/SWRNN)

During the city council meeting Tuesday, council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance that requires all business owners to use the E-Verify system to confirm eligibility of employees to work in the United States.

E-Verify is an online system that draws on the resources of the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security to determine whether someone can legally work in the United States.

Under the ordinance, a business operator who knowingly hires an undocumented worker could have his or her license revoked.

Council voted to implement E-Verify in front of a packed audience, and nearly 25 people from throughout Southwest Riverside addressed council urging passage of the ordinance; only three people spoke against the ordinance.

Ernie White of the Temecula Tea Party movement was one who spoke in favor of E-Verify.

“Americans need jobs,” he said. “We are going to take this country back. We need this.”

Many of those who spoke said the law, not country of origin, is the issue behind E-Verify.

“This is not about race. We’re all immigrants,” said Murrieta resident Rebecca Dunhoff. “Justice is blind. We have to pass this.”

Temecula resident Jennaya Dunlap spoke against E-Verify.

Dunlap heads Rapid Response Network, a local non-profit that advocates for immigrants. She said the E-Verify system isn’t a logical fit for Temecula.

“It’s costly and riddled with flaws,” she said.

Despite some opposition from the audience, councilmembers didn’t waiver in their unanimous vote.

“It’s not racial profiling,” said Councilmember Maryann Edwards. “E-Verify knows no color. It’s a very fair system. There are many benefits.”

Councilmember Chuck Washington agreed.

“We are a nation of immigrants,” he said. “We want people here, but we want them here legally.”

Mayor Jeff Comerchero said, “We’re not setting law. We’re just enforcing law that’s already on the books.”

Prior to the council meeting Tuesday night, more than 100 people gathered outside City Hall to participate in dueling immigration protests. Most of the protesters were anti-illegal immigration and identified themselves as part of the Tea Party movement.

While there was disagreement, the rally was peaceful.

Illegal immigration has been a hot-button issue in Southwest Riverside in recent weeks. Lake Elsinore and Menifee have both adopted E-Verify ordinances. Additionally, Hemet and Lake Elsinore have voted to adopt resolutions that support Arizona’s anti-immigration law, SB 1070. Menifee has also adopted a resolution that condemns California cities that don’t show support for the Arizona law.

Arizona’s SB 1070 wasn’t on the Temecula city council agenda Tuesday night, but five people spoke on the issue during the public comments portion of the meeting. Three people urged council to adopt a resolution, similar to Hemet and Lake Elsinore.

“We need you to form a coalition with the other cities and stand united with Arizona,” said Victorville resident Raymond Herrera.

Murrieta resident and Lake Elsinore Unified School District employee Tina Nicholas said that support for SB 1070 instills terror in immigrant communities.

“The children suffer,” she said. “It’s terrible to see the fear. They are afraid to go to school because they’re afraid their parents will get taken away.”

While Southwest Riverside cities adopt anti-illegal immigration policies, this past weekend the National League of Cities’ Board of Directors announced it is opposed to Arizona’s anti-illegal immigration law. In a statement endorsed by Riverside Mayor and National League of Cities President Ronald Loveridge, the League stated that the United States is a melting pot that has been strengthened by immigrants in countless ways.

Toni McAllister is SWRNN’s lifestyles editor. She can be reached at toni.mcallister@yahoo.com or 951-234-0704. Follow her on Twitter at SWRNNaelife.

Tags: arizona sb 1070, Chuck Washington, E-Verify, Ernie White, hemet, illegal immigration, Jeff Comerchero, Jennaya Dunlap, Lake Elsinore, maryann edwards, Menifee, Murrieta, National League of Cities, Rapid Response Network, Raymond Herrera, Rebecca Dunhoff, Riverside Mayor Ronald Loveridge, SWRNN, tea party, Temecula, Tina Nicholas, Toni McAllister

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 at 12:23 am and is filed under Local News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.