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Kim Seefeld's avatar

The actions of the Carpinteria City Council are illegal They cannot allocate taxpayer funds to NGOs devoted to opposing the exercise of valid law enforcement , support of illegal aliens. Council members have spoken in ways that incite violence against law enforcement , DHS personnel and they should be sanctioned and ashamed for doing so

Where were these people who were on the Council when Pres Biden was flying illegal alien criminals , child traffickers,rapists, gang members all over this country for 4 years?

As a resident of Carpinteria I vehemently oppose the lawlessness being encouraged by the Council , the virtue signaling by Solorzano contrary to the oath of office she took. If she can’t abide by her oath she should resign. As an individual, out of an office where she represents all of the residents of Carpinteria, she can say whatever she likes

I am out of town for the Summer and have tried to send written comment to the Council but the site does not work. Please know I totally support your voice and those who stand with you Kim Seefeld

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elcx's avatar

One also needs to look at their legally qualifying city council policies, for calling this short-notice "emergency meeting" that they used to allocate these city tax dollars.

What types of events constitutes an objective "emergency". Or is an "emergency" anything a majority of the council, in the heat of partisan passion, declares an "emergency"?

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Montecito93108's avatar

Law enforcement is outside the comfort zone of Mayor, our self-identified “compassionate, caring SBPD Chief”, and our recruited from Fresno conflicted, hypocrite D.A. He was recently event honored for supposedly being against teen trafficking. Huh?!? Read this article —- https://www.independent.com/2025/07/12/unwarranted-unnecessary-and-destructive/

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McGrune's avatar

Why isn’t ICE arresting those employing illegal immigrants? Is that happening at all? The truth is, our economy is based on a type of slave labor. When you go out to eat it’s probably involved, if you have a landscaper working in your yard or if you have a house cleaner it could very well be involved. Those taking care of the elderly are also often working illegally.

ICE doesn’t hold the people accountable who are profiting from it as far as I know. We are all inextricably profiting or using this system of slavery, stateless employment.

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Justin Shores's avatar

The owners were served a federal warrant for harboring illegal aliens.

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McGrune's avatar

Wouldn’t it be employing illegal aliens though? There’s financial transactions going on right then and there. Ultimately, the owners are the ones responsible for this.

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Stephen H Siemsen's avatar

I thought the warrant was based on the growing of cannabis, which is still against federal law, not on the "harboring of illegals", since there were no identified illegals listed by name on the warrant? A warrant can't just say "arrest SOMEONE" it must include their name.

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Justin Shores's avatar

It actually looks like it was due to labor issues stemming from the lawsuit that was filed in 2024. Here is a clip of when it was served.

https://x.com/kimkatieusa/status/1944090959249043656?s=46&t=f9Ong5hkVChcBZBzXqdwdQ

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Jeff barton's avatar

Slaves are not free to come and go. These slaves came here by choice. Is your use of the word slaves intended to associate illegal immigration to actual slavery? Surely you cannot be so simple-minded as to believe it is a valid comparison? A clownish comparison really.

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Montecito93108's avatar

Jeff Barton- McGrune’s post reads “de facto slave status”. The use of the adjective “de facto” is accurate. Trafficked humans by coyotes & cartels are “not free to come and go” as you post. In fact some minor children are sold off by their parent. They had no “choice” as you state in your post. They are victims.

You might visit & choose to support the full to capacity safe houses sponsored by the Santa Barbara Junior League. Several more safe houses are needed: think 300,000 trafficked minor children. These children are trapped, held, abused. The media wrongly reported on last Thursday’s raid. Are there no fact / truth reporters left in CA?

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Jeff barton's avatar

The pedant speaks. In fact I can read and now the backpedaling……well I meant trafficked children. Fine, why not just say that instead of sensational albeit de facto sensationalism?

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Stephen H Siemsen's avatar

YES! Trafficked child sex slaves! RELEASE the EPSTEIN files and flight logs so we can all learn how many times Trump enjoyed the company of minor sex partners.

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TVW's avatar

Really??

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McGrune's avatar

Many of these people have been trafficked. If their employers decide to not pay them wages good luck for them being compensated.

Stop 🛑 insulting

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Jeff barton's avatar

Why don’t you just say what you mean instead of throwing out the term slavery. You do your argument no service. Surely some have been trafficked and they may be slaves of their captors. If you are insulted by my comment I apologize because I do not disagree that the employers should be prosecuted. I just think throwing around “slavery” is like saying Trump is worse than Hitler. It is a bad comparison and distracts from a valid argument with a lame comparison. Don’t be so sensitive.

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Hauptsturmpführer Pfauci's avatar

Ask Pam Bimbo Bondi

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Howard Walther's avatar

Hello McGrune, if ICE arrested all of the Illegal Farm Workers, Restaurant Workers

and other Illegal Workers in CALI................... ICE would shut down the entire State.

Maybe a good thing so Congress may actually address this problem and have a Sane-Worker Temp-Visa Program. Instead Caby and Paddilly go out and GRANDSTAND

in the LIMELIGTH for their POLITICAL GAIN and FINANCIAL GAIN of this Illegal problem.

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McGrune's avatar

Sure, they’re grandstanding, but to collapse the real economy would only serve the billionaire class, wouldn’t it?

We need to be asking why ICE isn’t cuffing specific classes of people eg those making millions off the backs of those here illegally- I’m not talking about the restaurant owners or small scale enterprises, I’m talking about the very wealthy exploiting these people reduced to de facto slave status.

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Montecito93108's avatar

Yes McGrune! Selective justice is wrong, destructive and proving Team Trump may be status quo self-serving politicos, or deep state influenced. Make a big donation & law enforcement is blind to ensure no justice.

Why hasn’t Camarillo & Carp grower & Trump Donor Kyle Kazan been arrested? Why is his business still operational after the ICE raids? Arrest the Big Boys including the meat packers sending down buses and planes to bring in cheap, obedient labor to exploit at the expense of citizens, our working class. Don’t forget to arrest those on Wall Street and in tech who hire foreigners and extend their expired H1B VISAs.

DO Noems (DHS) and Bondi (DOH) lack staff? Are they overwhelmed? Out of their league? Are they part of the problem?

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Sally Tree's avatar

Because our current federal government can be bought out for the right price. El Chapo's family members paid $5 million for Trump's gold cards. I'm sure Kyle K. is shelling out the right price to CYA. He's employed shady business practices running glasshouse and shady business practices running his property management company. He's a grifter.

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George Valois's avatar

where was carbajol when Obama was called "the deporter in Chief" ? TDS?

Guess he now also approves of child labor.

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Anne West's avatar

Carbajol is a cartel whore

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elcx's avatar

Since this locality loves to trade in rumors on Nexdoor and the wild slurs by the SB Independent, "some people" wondered if the cartels had compromised either Carbajl or the Glass House owners, or both?

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Anne West's avatar

my guess would be both. The cartels are running HUGE operations, hundreds, if not thousands, of illegal grows out in the desert; stealing water, power, locked down properties that they don't own, guns, etc. There was a big report on it last year. There are so many that the local police and sheriffs don't even have the power to do anything about it. So it makes sense they would be in bed with Glass House, who is known for running a huge blackmarket operation too. And, once you get in bed with cartels, there is not getting out.

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elcx's avatar

If the cartels turned many parts of Mexico into a violent narco-state in order to retain power, easy to believe they did not change their culture just by illegally crossing our US borders.

Further investigations are warranted including why there was official blindness to their large illegal grow operations in our national forests. Where were the environmentalists on that issue? What message did media reports of beheaded and burned bodies dumped on our back country roads send to the local powers that be? How much collateral "sleaze" does the presence of the Chumash Casino bring to our local community.

The Santa Ynez Band of Indiana are not the charitable "donors" to our community, that they like to portray. They are required by their gambling licensing agreement with the federal government of contribute to local surrounding communities to mitigate the impacts of their presence and the social ills that come with gambling addictions and lifestyles.

How does the county set this involuntary contribution amount, and why do they always celebrate this as a "gift" to our community instead of their required gambling mitigation obligations. Does the amount offset the impacts?

What is really behind the sale of the historic El Encanto Hotel to the owners of Tinder online "hook ups" dating site, to turn it into a "membership club"?

Does this sound like the potential for more sleaze oozing into our beautiful community, like the notorious Marijana Mile when over 20 pot stores had put in applications for storefronts in a one mile radius shortly after locals "legalized" recreational pot? Solvang now is getting oddly tatty around the edges, after being leaders in design control and locally owned family businesses celebrating their Danish heritage.

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LT's avatar
Jul 14Edited

Many valid points, Denise. The recent political “stunt” played by our Congressman during the pathetic “standoff “ in Carpinteria, was yet another example of virtue signaling and pandering from Carbajal who himself, is naturalized and possibly even entered the US illegally along with his parents.

How is it so many local retirees are in favor of their tax dollars going to illegals? And we wonder why our schools, infrastructure and healthcare are going broke. How is it possible that the left favors children being abused while working on a questionable Carpinteria pot plantation? Sounds like something out of the Deep South during segregation.

As for WHY folks are reluctant to speak out publicly about illegal immigration, it seems likely it is from fear. Yes, fear from being singled out, ridiculed and labeled as a “racist” by our neighbors.

The liberal left is masterful at confrontation, bullying, intimidation, and threats of loss of livelihood, even violence for daring to go against party dictum. So much for peace, love and understanding! The use of fear, name calling and confrontation is right out of the liberal left and Alinsky playbook.

The time is way overdue for conservatives to unite, stand up, sound off and say enough is enough! The DOJ must issue an arrest warrant NOW for Congressman, Salud Carbajal!

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Cate wilkins's avatar

Protestors blocked, bludgeoned, damaged federal vehicles, shot a firearm at DEA/ICE in the operation to arrest PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED human traffickers, rapists, murderers. 🟣. THE RECOVERED 14 minor-aged workers at this cannabis plant is a small but critical boost to the 10k missing minors (now well into their teens) that have been recovered from the >300k illegal minors OF RECORD that were poorly processed and forgotten. 🟣 The recovery of these minors are stringed with heart-arresting accounts of sexual abuse, rape, exploitation. These accounts will be made public in due time as the minors are secured and safe. Asked what drives the law enforcement agents? THIS absolutely does. The untold story. The worst human abuse in modern times. Carbajal, you have some explaining to do.

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Anne West's avatar

carbajol is a cartel whore.

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Sally Tree's avatar

Trump sells El Chapo's family passes to America. He'll do anything for the right price. I made sure to send an email to Salud to thank him for taking a stand last Thursday. Believe it or not most of your neighbors don't like how things are being done.

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Justin Shores's avatar

I wrote something for Noozhawk on this also. Thank you for speaking up!

https://www.noozhawk.com/justin-shores-carpinteria-city-councils-misguided-ice-defiance-fuels-division-excuses-exploitation/

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Polly Frost's avatar

This line in your piece sums it up “This isn’t compassion; it’s complicity in a system that exploits undocumented workers while shielding those who profit from it.” Yes. For ages I'd hear about business owners who “hire” illegals with promises of payment, then call ICE to get them deported so they didn't have to pay them. Immigrants are not being helped by the Dems.

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Howard Walther's avatar

From your good article Justin and I quote "Years ago, under President Barack Obama, I lost two close friends to deportation. Both had used stolen documents to work and, when they were caught, they were abruptly removed."

I can understand that people just want to work, but I think what everyone is discussing here are people that come across the border who commit crimes and continue to do so.

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Polly Frost's avatar
Montecito93108's avatar

Agree Polly: there’s much more to disclose and to know. We’re lucky Candidate Bob Smith is informed, is a proven leader, is DC experienced, and has the required courage to get results. Imagine electing a representative who will actually follow the law, listen to all constituents, and represent US! Citizens matter! Bob Smith is exceptional. He met for hours with locally raised, DC based, immigration authority Peggy Sands Orchowski, PhD to be updated on pending immigration legislation and history, including legal cases. Navy vet, engineer Bob Smith’s pragmatism, advisory network of pros, depth of understanding of complex issues, and leadership is needed. Now we must actively support him. Get GOP and NPPs to become politically active, then vote.

https://x.com/bobsmith4usa/status/1944654010935566442?s=46

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Polly Frost's avatar

What Carbajal did with doxxing should send him to jail.

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Polly Frost's avatar

We need an investigation into who is funding Carbajal and what child trafficking they are involved in.

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Sally Tree's avatar

Guess most Santa Barbarans are part of a secret cabal. Have you stepped outside to talk to people in your community? We don't support how the federal government is conducting itself. You talk as if you have a silent majority in this town. Maybe we see that what the GOP/MAGA tells us is mostly lies. We live amongst the undocumented and know that most of these people are not how they are being characterized. Any immigration reform is shot down by the GOP. The Current is it's own echo chamber. You can only comment frequently if you cop up $. They also subscribed community members against their will. But nobody is talking about that.

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Jim Buckley's avatar

Sally: We know that we represent no more than 37% or so of the voting public, but we believe that minority should be represented somewhere, somehow. None of the local media leans in our direction, so we have decided to set our own place at the table.

To your point: be fair, don't forward lies you've either invented or heard. Meaningful immigration reform is always "shot down" by the Democrat Party. All we have to do is note what the Biden Administration did to our southern border as soon as they grabbed the reins of power. As far as the Current subscribing community members "against their will," well, yes, we tried to harness as many bodies as we could as a startup and so ploughed through as many mailing lists as we could find.

All one needs to do, however, is hit the "unsubscribe" button and your pain will be relieved.

No one pays $$ to "comment frequently," and, in fact, we discourage commenting when a comment doesn't reference the subject matter or, of course, when those "comments" are filled with idiotic profanity, or even just simple profanity. Yes, there is a silent minority in this area, and Santa Barbara Current is – proudly – its voice.

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TVW's avatar

Sally you are permitting your emotions to control thought process. Approach the subject objectively...and legally.

Your reference to "immigration reform" a thinly veiled euphemism for amnesty and open borders... And frankly has become very boring. If you look at the data, you will see that it's not the GOP per se. It's the American people overwhelmingly oppose "immigration reform". If they did support it, the law would change because the politicians first and foremost want to please the people who keep them in power.

I don't know how much education you have in economics, but there is virtually no case to be made for importing millions and millions of uneducated and unskilled people into this country. We have an over abundance…and they are forcing down the wages of others. Not speculation...that is fact. Where is your compassion and emotion for those most impacted by legal immigration.

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Anne West's avatar

carbajol is cartel

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Polly Frost's avatar

Carbatel

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Cate wilkins's avatar

His new moniker.

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Sally Tree's avatar

Gateway pundit. The unbiased and reliable source of truth.

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Justin M. Ruhge's avatar

Democratic Rep. Carbajal is making a race issue about the illegal aliens , instead of the safety issue , and legal issues . You can always bet on him for chaos. All races are welcome legally at the front door of the USA. He supports only illegals.

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Brent's Journal's avatar

Thanks Denise for discussing an important issue. In theory we elect candidates to manage our assets either through direct spending or through companies that are audited. California has an estimated 90 state agencies to implement the state's plans. Individuals who wish to support an idea can do so. So what are the NGO's, or Non Government Organizations doing that the elected officials do not want us to be able to vote on? Who is auditing the NGOs, or for that matter the officials?

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Bernard Gans's avatar

Thank you for writing the article.

Do the supporters of illegal immigration want open borders, the repeal of 8 USC 1324, the elimination of U.S. citizenship? Or are they like children and merely want what they want and damn the consequences to society and our country?

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Mareth's avatar

I thought I was an army of one. Definitely interested in finding out where I can add my voice in support of sane policies that make our citizens and our communities the first priority. Thank you!

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Sherry Foster's avatar

Congratulations Denise You knocked it out of the park. I was told that when it came to the gop the installed members wouldnt vote out the current chair who thwarted the 2020'2022'2024 elections. They prefer to help the democrats to keep the ponzi scheme going. The gatewaypundit.com just published yesterday that Salud Carbahal doxxed an Ice Agent by passing his business card to the protestors! These are all treasoneous acts of insurrection. He has clearly violated his oath of Office to the people for Santa Barbara County. I'll message you about participating in your event. New California State president Paul Preston will have alot to say on this matter. ❤️❤️🕊🕊🙏🙏🙏💥💥💥💥💥💥

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Anne West's avatar

Carbajal is cartel.

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Montecito93108's avatar

What about this Rowse, the SBPD Chief & D.A.?

Read on … https://www.independent.com/2025/07/12/unwarranted-unnecessary-and-destructive/

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Sherry Foster's avatar

We all know he has received money from george soros

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Thomas John's avatar

Really, if you look at Federal Election Commission data compiled by OpenSecrets, he's gotten 1000 bucks from Jonathan Soros - George's son back in 2017. So I guess we all don't know.

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Sherry Foster's avatar

It has been noted in New California state they have been using steeling elections in other countries and here for way over 20 + years.

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Thomas John's avatar

Kind of like what Musk did? Since when is donating to a politician stealing?

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Sherry Foster's avatar

It does fall under Rico all it takes is the right people ro file the lawsuit everything we have done in NewCaliForniaState haa constitutional standing with far greater impact

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Mike L's avatar

Count me in to voice concerns over this- it's appalling that any city/county representative would knowingly harbor illegal citizens in the name of " humanity!"

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Sherry Foster's avatar

Especially after ice took 10 reported criminals foe child sex traffiking and drugs Salud Carbahal L

Along with 387 other of hia constituents watch on Wednesday 7/17 mass arrest atart happening thia month. https://youtu.be/qcHD206n_jk?si=WiWewRFAsdVK-sZ1 this Rn is spot on evweything she says

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Peggy Wilson's avatar

Thank you Denise for your article. I agree with you on this statement: "I'sn’t it first appropriate and essential to take a poll of ‘The Community? Is there not more than one resident of Carpinteria who supports the U.S. Constitution and respects execution of existing laws, including those against child slave labor or human trafficking?" TAKE A POLL AND STOP THE ASSUMPTIONS!!!!

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Sally Tree's avatar

Do you live under a rock? Oh wait no, you are in the SB Current echo chamber. Most people in this community don't support this! Look on next door or comments on local news articles. Most people are against what is happening. Stop acting like we want this.

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George Russell's avatar

Excellent article. If they will prosecute offenders like Salud Carbajal a lot of this will stop. Report any illegal alien activity to ICE we have to help them get the criminals out of our area:

ICE Tip Line: 866-347-2423 VOICE Hotline: 855-488-6423 Detention Reporting and Information Line: 888-351-4024 Detained Individuals Hotline: 855-448-6903

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CarsAreBasic's avatar

Regardless of which side you are on regarding this issue it is clear there needs to be a complete clean up of the immigration laws and rules.

Since WWII they have been changed and bent. The current Blue States are and have passed resolutions and "laws?" to negate the Supremacy rule.

It has to change. Use of taxpayer money to support NGO's that are and have been clearly PAC's is both ethical and illegal.

When you not only give them money but then allow them to use government offices, property, and staffers it is clear violation of ethics and law.

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Anne-Marie's avatar

Really? Going after folks who have been here for years. Working, raising families. caregivers, cooks, laborers, gardeners. Remember Reagan’s amnesty program??? Why not now for people who have lived peacefully among us for years.

Yes, control the border. Yes, deport actual criminals. Get the military and their armored vehicles off the streets of the USA.

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Justin Shores's avatar

Obama did the same. Immigration law enforcement is always going to be painful. Blame the company for not sponsoring the workers. Also it is illegal for people under 21 to work on a weed farm. Are you ok with corporate exploitation of unaccompanied minors?

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Anne-Marie's avatar

Not ok with corporate exploitation of minors. However, I don't believe it is illegal for kids of 16 to work in fields, even canabis fields. Which I agree, is stupid.

Also, not OK with rounding up people trying to make a living, who have no criminal history.

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Bonnie Donovan's avatar

Anyone working for a pot farm MUST BE 21 or older. It's the law...

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Justin Shores's avatar

It is illegal because Marijuana is a class 1 substance. Direct your anger at the large corporation in Carp that is exploiting workers so they can sell weed at $300 a pound. Why are you upset with Law Enforcement?

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Bonnie Donovan's avatar

Anyone working for a pot farm MUST BE 21 or older. It's the law...

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Sally Tree's avatar

The way this enforcement is being done is heinous. I will not vote for anyone who supports the way these enforcement actions are being carried out. It is clear the federal government is targeting their political enemies and our communities. You may not be a white christian nationalist, but certainly the white christian nationalists like storm front are on your side.

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Justin Shores's avatar

Why are you mad at law enforcement and not the big local corporation that is exploiting workers? It was a joint operation stemming from their own workers class action lawsuit. Immigration enforcement is always going to separate someone from the community, just like every administration. You are seeing it now is because the left is using the crisis they created to motivate their party. Just like BLM. Now the leftist activists are shaking down the city councils and board of supervisors for more funding because an election is coming.

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Sally Tree's avatar

Because the way the enforcement is occurring is not building trust within the community. This is a departure from past enforcement actions. They are not identifying themselves. They are hiring untrained individuals and deputizing them. Look at the guy who was arrested in Long Beach. If you want to gain momentum while achieving the objective of deportation maybe don't do it with paramilitaries. The people who are in charge of our federal government are in bed with large corporations. Namely GEO group and Palantir. That is way larger than Glasshouse. And f**k Glasshouse too. They don't care about their workers.

My friends who are citizens and that are brown are terrified and having to carry proof of citizenship. You are on the side of people like Laura Loomer talking about 65 million deportations which is the latino community in the US. You've got Tom Homan saying it's ok to profile. I know my friends who are cops are having a hell of a time because everyone in the community is freaked out. You guys talk like you have a silent majority in SB. The divisiveness is beyond politics and has moved into a form of terrorism.

The truth is there are people who support this that hate brown people. They want to create a white ethnostate and are having a great time watching brown people get hurt. You have to accept that these people are part of your team. You bet that our community is going to push back against that. We know better now. People on your team are treating this as an existential culture war. America is not a monoculture. We never have been.

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Michael Self's avatar

I DO remember Reagan’s amnesty. Californa has been on downward spiral ever since.

American citizens didn’t used to think menial work was beneath them until wages were slashed due to illegal immigrants would work for less, many paid under the table while collecting government benefits.

I owned a housecleaning business for 17 years. Refused to pay cash which limited my employee options.

Do it legally or don’t do it!

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TheotokosAppreciator's avatar

"California has been on a downward spiral ever since"

What golden age are you idolizing my guy? What era do you speak of that was so grand.

"Americans didn't used to think menial labor was beneath them-"

??? Right cause middle class families love to have their adult kids work in... menial labor.

"Illegal immigrants work for less - therefore they stole our jobs!"

Tell me, how many American, especially middle class whites are keen on working as housekeeping staff in a hotel? Zero I'd imagine - even if it paid 25 an hour, they're not doing it.

"I owned a housecleaning business for 17 years. Refused to pay cash which limited my employee options."

Limited employee options? So even you admit Americans have negligible interest in menial labor

But hey, here's an anecdote of my own. I'm a young man, 21 - Hispanic, working at a hotel in housekeeping. The only people applying for cleaning related work are older, hispanic women - I have never seen any person other than Hispanic women in their late mid 20's to late 40's, illegal alien (don't care) or not. So please, where is this hidden workforce you speak of? What are they doing now?

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Bonnie Donovan's avatar

Theo, how it works is they pay low wages so nobody but the ones they are hiring would work for this. They pay cash, and the worker doesn't have to claim the wage, making them eligible for free housing. I have heard of a construction company doing the same thing. Telling them I pay you low, but you can get free housing, SNAP (also known as food stamps), and free medical care. They are being screwed. After all those years of working, they don't earn a good wage that boosts their Social Security income at retirement...

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