Inland Southern California

PEACEFUL: Officials videotape the protest by foes and supporters of the roundups.

10:09 AM PDT on Tuesday, June 29, 2004

TEMECULA - With agents clad in dark riot gear looking on, about 30 activists gathered outsidethe Border Patrol station in Temecula on Monday to protest recent immigration sweeps in Southern California.

No violence broke out during the hourlong demonstration, and several of the protesters said authorities had overreacted.

"We come here in the spirit of nonviolence," said Armando Navarro, a UCR ethnic studies professor and coordinator of the National Alliance for Human Rights, one of several groups represented at the event.

Paul Alvarez / The Press-Enterprise Erendia Santellan of San Diego is among activists protesting sweeps of Mexican immigrants at the U.S. Border Patrol Station in Temecula.

"They meet us as if we're going to riot. It's like a war zone," he said pointing at the line of agents who stood wearing helmets and carrying body shields behind a wire fence.

Border Patrol officials videotaped and photographed the protest from the station's roof. Gloria Chavez, a spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said agents brought out the riot gear and recorded the protest just in case things got out of control.

"In this case, it was a peaceful demonstration and therefore our agents were not needed to take any sort of action," she said.

The chants of the protesters occasionally were met with outbursts from a smaller group waving American flags and protesting the protesters.

"I'm here to support the Border Patrol in their sweeps," said Treva Bennett, of Sun City, who carried a sign that said illegal immigrants had no right to protest and should be deported.

For the most part, the groups stayed apart and exchanged few words.

Monday's demonstration was spurred by an acknowledgement last week by a top federal official that policies were not followed when the immigration sweeps were carried out earlier this month.

Asa Hutchinson, the Department of Homeland Security undersecretary for border and transportation authority, said Friday that department headquarters in Washington, D.C., did not authorize the sweeps. However, Hutchinson's spokeswoman said the sweeps were legal and that Hutchinson's comments didn't mean future sweeps wouldn't happen.

A mobile unit of the Temecula Border Patrol detained more than 150 immigrants in sweeps in the Ontario and Corona areas on June 4 and 5. Another 161 arrests were made in Escondido from June 9 to June 11.

U.S. Border Patrol officers in riot gear are on standby during a protest Monday. No violence broke out during the demonstration.

Several of the protesters said Monday that these sweeps had created a climate of fear in the Latino community. They demanded an immediate end to the sweeps.

If the sweeps continue, the protests will become larger and louder and could take the form of civil disobedience, protesters said.

"It's selective enforcement, just because of the color of your skin," said Raul Wilson, who represents the Mexican Political Association in Moreno Valley.

Border officials have denied they're engaged in racial profiling and say they target individuals based on intelligence received.

Protesters said the immigrants who are being targeted contribute to the economy and perform jobs that others won't do, such as picking grapes and washing dishes.

"We're organized and we're ready to fight this Gestapo-style movement," said Joe Mota, who represented the United Farm Workers at the demonstration.

Those protesting the protesters, however, said undocumented immigrants were taking advantage of welfare, health and other benefits that legal immigrants were paying for.

"We ask that federal laws be enforced," said Arnie Chandler, of Murrieta.

"There should be fear among federal lawbreakers," he said.

Robin Hvidston, of Upland, said undocumented immigrants are taking jobs away from legal citizens and that authorities need to crack down on people who employ them.

Both sides agreed that more needs to be done to build a stronger and more stable economy in Mexico.

Staff writer Elizabeth Brotherton contributed to this story. Reach Douglas Quan at (909) 368-9479 or dquan@pe.com