EL CAJON, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — In a three-to-two vote Tuesday, the El Cajon City Council announced its intentions to assist federal authorities when possible with federal immigration information.
The meeting was cleared twice as supporters of the ordinance interrupted the council meeting, shouting at councilmembers who called them out by name.
El Cajon is a community divided as Mayor Bill Wells has pushed an ordinance for three meetings, allowing for local law enforcement to be protected if they work to assist with federal authorities in removing immigrants without legal status.
“It kind of lays the track down for El Cajon and I’m hoping other communities join in,” said Larry Olds, a supporter of the new ordinance. “And they’ll see it’s not that we are against Mexicans but if they come in illegally, they have to be dealt with.”
“This is, at the end of the day, a step back in time for the Hispanic community and the city of El Cajon,” said Carlos Gomez-Perez, a former Marine corporal, of the vote.
He explained that he fears being racially profiled by his community police officers.
“They are not seeing the fact that I’m a Silver Star recipient, which is the third highest medal for valor someone can receive,” Gomez-Perez continued. “They don’t know that I have been shot twice for this country. All they know is that I look Hispanic.
“The division is heartbreaking to see,” Olds added.
“This is where ideas go and you can defend your positions and it’s public discourse,” said Councilmember Phil Ortiz. “And I think you should have more of it in person — face-to-face — and not over social media where we dehumanize each other.”
Out of 18 cities in San Diego County, El Cajon stands alone in this ordinance.
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