New Demonstration Targets Costa Mesa Immigrant Rule

About 40 demonstrators gathered outside Costa Mesa City Hall on Thursday, demanding a reversal of the city’s decision authorizing its police officers to help enforce federal immigration law and protesting the arrest of an activist on suspicion of disrupting a council meeting this week.

Soon after the protest, Police Chief John D. Hensley stepped onto a nearby sidewalk to explain and defend Costa Mesa’s plan.

“My job is to make it work,” Hensley said of the city’s decision to become the first in the nation enabling its police officers to work with federal officials to ascertain the immigration status of those arrested in serious crimes.

Hensley said he had tried repeatedly to meet with the protesters but that they had rebuffed him.

“I believe we want some of the same things for Costa Mesa,” he said, “but [they] will never hear that from me unless [they] sit down.”

Just moments earlier, a man identifying himself as Coyotl Tezcalipoca, spokesman for a group called the Collectivo Tonantzin, had exhorted the small crowd of onlookers to resist allowing police to become involved in enforcing immigration policy. He also called for the recall of Mayor Allan Mansoor and two other council members who supported the plan.

“We are here to speak out against racism and discrimination,” he said. The city’s decision “was a violation of human rights. They are trying to divide us, and we want to keep the city whole. We are not here to beg you -- we are here to demand that you do what’s right.”

Tezcalipoca -- whom police have identified as Benito Acosta, 25, of Costa Mesa -- was arrested Tuesday night during a verbal confrontation over the issue at a City Council meeting.

He was booked at Costa Mesa Jail on suspicion of disturbing an assembly, interfering with a council meeting and resisting an officer.

On Thursday, the protesters demanded that all criminal charges against him be dropped. A police spokesman later said none had been filed.

The council’s 3-2 vote on Dec. 7 to train city police officers to work with federal officials in determining the immigration status of arrested suspects has been applauded by some opposed to illegal immigration.

Those supporters include Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the Minuteman Project, a controversial border security group and recent unsuccessful candidate for Congress.

City officials say they are still working out the details of the program but could begin implementing it this year.