Mexican Consul Joins Talks on Migrant Woes

The consul general of Mexico met with a cadre of North County leaders Thursday, showing the increasing concern by officials on both sides of the border over the growing tension between migrant workers and suburbanites.

In a private home in Encinitas, Hermilo Lopez-Bassols told an assembly of county, state and legislative representatives that “bilateral cooperation” would be needed to finance housing for workers living in squalid conditions in North County.

“It’s impossible for just one body of government to solve this problem,” Lopez-Bassols said. “Solutions and money must come from my government, from Sacramento, from Washington, from the city and the community.”

Result of Growth

Increasingly surrounded by the new subdivisions that are part of the North County development boom, migrant workers have retreated to their camps of plywood and cardboard hooches, creating pockets of poverty amid affluence.

Although many of these workers contribute to the North County work force, often doing domestic labor for its residents, their living conditions have raised the ire of homeowners and many elected officials.

In the past, angry residents have simply demanded the workers’ removal. But, since many of them are now residing here legally under the federal amnesty law, such action is no longer a viable option.

“Just like the Irish and other immigrants who have come here, so have these people,” said Oceanside Councilwoman Melba Bishop. “They’re here legally, and that makes them our responsibility.”

Many regional leaders have criticized the amnesty law for allowing workers to stay in the United States while not providing any money to build housing for them.

“Amnesty is a good idea, but for Congress to have passed it without enough money for housing was a mistake,” said Gloria Valencia-Cothran, who deals with social-service issues for County Supervisor John MacDonald.

Valencia-Cothran and other local leaders asked that the consul general join their efforts to gain more housing money from Washington.

“We need another voice,” Valencia-Cothran said. “Congress has already heard from us. The consul general has access to Washington. He can serve as a bullhorn to let them know about our problem.”