Fire and I.C.E. Hit San Diego (A Mensajero del Pueblo Brief)

First came Hurricane Katrina, bringing a deluge of water and displaying for the world the double
standard as to what is considered a human being in the United States. One in which Whites were not seen as looters, but as courageous souls trying to survive and feed their families, while the African community was portrayed as criminals looting and pillaging during a national disaster.

Over the last few days, fire ravaged the rural hills and lush vegetation of San Diego County, and again, we are witnesses to the double standard as to what a human being is. Whites, again, are seen as victims of a disaster, while this time it is the Mexican and other Latin-American communities who are portrayed as criminal.

This past Sunday afternoon, various community based organizations from throughout San Diego met to share information in regards to incidents occurring during the fire. Among these organizations was the Human Rights Committee: Digna Ochoa, The Raza Rights Coalition, The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Mexicanos Unidos en Defensa del Pueblo (MUDP), The Coalition for Justice, Peace and Dignity, The Human Rights Committees from Civic Heights, Vista and Escondido.

Forget the picture perfect scenes staged for the President and his Terminator buddy that were supposed to make up for the lack of effort to the Katrina disaster, and the staged press conference that was set up by FEMA (they actually created their own media) to show that this time they got it right. However, what happened this week was anything but humanitarian; it was a grotesque, new, inhumane way to carry out gentrification. First, the Mexicano/ Latino community is hit by fire, and then it is hit by the I.C.E. COLD and inhumane reaction of the state, which unleashed both the police force and the border patrol.

We have all heard the reports that the Border Patrol switched from the Gestapo to a humanitarian mode worthy of the benevolence of Mother Teresa: LIES, ALL LIES. The reports that undocumented immigrants were stealing at Qualcom stadium: LIES, ALL LIES. Allegations that undocumented immigrants started the fires: … Well, you can see where all this is going.

The Saturday (10/27/07) issue of the newspaper La Opinión, clearly illustrates the deceptive and slanderous propaganda released by state authorities in accusing undocumented victims as thieves in an effort to both incite the violence prone Minute Men and Klan, and to justify the fact that undocumented victims were being handed over to immigration authorities for deportation. This is after border patrol representatives stated they were not out patrolling for undocumented immigrants, but were reassigned to serve as part of the rescue efforts.

Furthermore, there is testimony from witnesses from various communities in San Diego County and the American Friends Services Committee that during the fires about 200 detentions were made by the border patrol in San Diego alone.

In Fallbrook, witnesses reported seeing border patrol checkpoints on various roads leading back into Fallbrook after residents were being allowed to return home. People were being stopped and asked for documentation and about their legal status. In the rush of evacuating, even some residents with legal residency had left their documentation at home. Several people said they had to circumvent these checkpoints through alternate routes in order to make it home safely. Another Fallbrook resident said her son was taken by border patrol agents and deported. On Alturas Street, a segregated and predominantly Mexican part of town, border patrol squads were seen slowly patrolling the area.

In Temecula, there was also a checkpoint where border patrol agents and Sheriffs were checking for Identification and green cards. At an evacuation center in Temecula, evacuees reported witnessing border patrol agents detaining people in Escondido. Border patrol agents were also seen in Valley Center asking residents for legal documentation.

At Qualcom stadium, things weren't so humanitarian either. There was a report of a plain clothed border patrol agent blocking a network station video crew's camera as they tried to record detentions that were being made by the Gestapo, I mean the border patrol. There was also a confrontation between a school teacher and police officers when he questioned why people with children were being detained during this tragedy. On top of this, there was also a report that diapers for a sick baby that needed to be changed were denied. Finally, we must also mention the incident that started a media frenzy which stigmatized all Mexicans as criminals.

Isaias Santiago and his family, which includes his wife and four children, arrived to the evacuation center at Qualcom Stadium from Mira Mesa on Monday. That same day, they were joined by Isaias' cousin and his family of six. The extended family of 12 brought with them some of their own blankets, some toys, such as a game boy for their kids to play with and some other supplies. They spent Monday and Tuesday there with no incidents. Then on Wednesday after they were told it was OK to return home, they were urged, as were many other evacuees, to take about three days worth of food back home with them.

It must be noted that Qualcom had been inundated by huge amounts of donations, so much so, that much of the surplus donations were being sent out to non- affected San Diego community residents.

At some point while the family was loading their vehicle a volunteer started accusing them of taking too much and stealing supplies to sell. At that point, the police were called and in typical fashion, instead of investigating the "crime" a female officer started using hand gestures (she spoke no Spanish) and demanding the two families for legal status documentation, as well as for their driver's license. They communicated to her that they had left everything at home.

All their belongings were taken from them, including the supplies and toys they had initially brought with them. They were not given a chance to retrieve or explain that some of the items were brought by them. There was no investigation done, no report taken nor was there any evidence that they had been stealing. The police found it easier to call border patrol officers then to do their job, which is what Isais and the rest of us pay them to do.

They stated that they would let the border patrol decide if they would get deported or not. The border patrol arrived about three hours later. During their wait, police encircled them and created a make shift detention center. No one had anything to eat nor was anyone given any food through the long ordeal. Ironic, since the center had a surplus of food. It wasn't until late in the evening when some of the kids began to make a fuss that they were finally given something to eat. Isaias and his family was then taken and deported, while his cousin's family was let go, because three of their children were U.S. citizens.

Fortunately, Isais was able to contact a relative in Tijuana who was able to let him borrow some money for a hotel room for his family. Later that evening the AFSC located the family and arranged a meeting where they videotaped an interview to document this egregious violation of any ethical human right.

Contrary to the mayor's statement and the police reports that stated that the family confessed to selling the alleged stolen goods, Isaias denies ever making such a statement, much less that he was stealing. This makes sense since no investigation was done in the first place.

A concerned resident, who was collecting supplies herself, stated, "How could they be stealing if everything was free? It was being given out so it would not spoil."

This incident started a panic at Qualcom stadium. Many evacuees started leaving the site in fear that they would also be deported. The media also started releasing a frenzy of irresponsible reports. Not only was this family being criminalized, but through them, all immigrants were being stigmatized. Hosts on a local radio stated, "All of them are stealing everything!" Such was the portrayal of immigrants.

Because of such actions taken by the border patrol, there were reports of people running back into dangerous areas whenever they would spot a patrol vehicle. The border patrol, being a symbol of terror, was definitely not seen as a rescue resource, nor did it behave in such a manner.

If one really wants to see the double standards practiced in the U.S. towards all people of color, all one has to do is to look at the fact that animals were given better humanitarian treatment than our communities. While horses and other farm animals were being evacuated, workers at these same locations were forced to continue to work through hazardous and unhealthy conditions. On Wednesday, various human rights groups visited several locations to try and convince employers to allow workers to evacuate. Amongst these groups were the Border Angels, the AFSC and an Indigenous organization from North County the FIOP. Unable to convince these greedy "businessmen" that the health of their workers was at stake, the AFSC called the Police who, true to their nature, refused to do anything about it while across the same street they issued a mandatory evacuation order and were actually going door to door. Mexican consulate officials were also called and they too were unsuccessful in convincing supervisors to allow employees to leave.

Amongst locations visited were Rancho Leslie Farms in Rancho Peñesquitos (consisting of about 120 to 150 workers) and Evergreen Nursery in Poway (consisting of about 35 workers).

Various businesses, despite mandatory evacuation orders, continued to do business in Fallbrook, as well. Nearby, in Pala there was another report where the manager of an avocado grower company had his employees take up hoses to fight the fire in an effort to prevent his avocado trees from burning, of course there is no report of this greedy bastard picking-up a hose himself.

Even the media coverage itself portrayed the double standards practiced in the U.S., as most of the coverage focused on predominantly affluent white communities. A Poway resident who's house had escaped fire stated that there was more severe damage in Fallbrook than Poway, but there was very little information in regards to Fallbrook communities. Several Fallbrook residents shared similar views.

Finally, we must point out the distorted message that the media propagated during this tragedy. There was no mention of the bravery and human solidarity of a group of undocumented immigrants that took up hoses and saved several highly valued homes.

They were thanked and appreciated by the estate owners, yet more media coverage was given to the false accusations from Qualcom than to the humanity displayed by these workers who most likely have no home of their own.

To add insult to injury, many of the fire victims will not see a cent from the emergency funds that have been set aside as aid.

Various organizations have been setting up locations throughout San Diego where people can drop off donations that will be going directly to marginalize victims. There is also a fund that is being established where possibly monetary vouchers can be given out.