Staff reports

The Desert Sun

UPDATE (after 2 p.m.):

About 50 protesters have remained near the entrance of the Border Patrol station in Murrieta -- an almost equal amount of protesters both for and against illegal immigration that are still awaiting the arrival of 140 undocumented women and children.

Kelli Parrish-Lucas, an ordained minister from Escondido, arrived about 6 pm -- well after protests died down -- to "witness an event that's impacting our community."

"It's a juxtaposition to be celebrating freedom today when we're not treating people how we should be," said Parrish-Lucas, a supporter of the 140 women and children who are set to be processed in Murrieta.

Murrieta resident Charles Godby was at the protest since 2 pm as part of the protest group opposing the undocumented immigrants' flight to Murrieta for processing.

The community of Murrieta has been villified and portrayed unfairly by the public in light of the protests that blocked three buses from entering the station for processing on Tuesday, he said.

"We're not racist. We're not violent. But we're not silent anymore," Godby said.

"I have nothing against immigrants."

-Ricardo Cano

UPDATE (after 2 p.m.):

While a group of 50 remain outside the Murrieta border patrol entrance for the arrival of bus loads of 140 undocumented women and children, a group of about 30 are waiting south down Madison Avenue and Fig Street planning similar efforts to Tuesday when protesters blocked buses from entering the station.

William Satmary, a Murrieta protester who has waited for buses to arrive since 10 a.m., said there are "escalating efforts" among a group of community members to continue forms of resistance toward busloads of undocumented women and children who are slated to be processed at the Murrieta station for an indefinite period.

Satmary said the group of 30 at the corner of Madison and fig plan to block the road when the buses arrive, "but if police tell us to move, we'll move," he said.

The buses are expected to arrive to the border patrol station south from Madison Avenue -- opposite of Tuesday when they arrived from the north -- and will likely pass the intersection of Madison and Fig , where the group plans to hold its blockade.

-Ricardo Cano

UPDATE (5:32 p.m.): Border Patrol agents brought out three lamps at about 4 pm outside the entrance of border patrol station.

-Ricardo Cano

UPDATE (5:00 p.m.): Two men and three women were arrested about 4 p.m. on the south end of Madison and Fig, according to Murrieta police.

A woman was involved in a fight with another woman, and when officers went to detain the woman, she did not cooperate and jumped on the officer's back. She was arrested on suspicion of battery on an officer. The other four interfered and were arrested on suspicion of obstructing an officer in his investigation. Police did not say on what side of the issue the protesters were on. The arrests came after one earlier in the day. A person crossed the yellow tape that blocked protesters from the border patrol station entrance about 9 a.m. and was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and disobeying an officer.

-Ricardo Cano

UPDATE (4:38 p.m.): Anti- undocumented immigrant protesters decked in red, white and blue play "God Bless America" over speakers. The scene continues to thin.

-Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (4:22 p.m.): Sheriff's vehicles lined up on Fig Street and Madison.

-Tatiana Sanchez/The Desert Sun

UPDATE (4:15 p.m.): About 20 sheriff's cars with sirens on have set up near the border patrol station on Fig Street. Officers are donning riot gear. Police have blocked off one of the entryways to the station at Fig and Madison.

-Ricardo Cano

UPDATE (3:52 p.m.):

Noel Breen and Linda Hendrickson arrived in Murrieta just past 3 p.m. Breen hails from Palm Springs. Hendrickson is from Carlsbad.

The two carried a small yellow sign that read, "Nation of immigrants."

"What are we doing taking two presidential terms out on a bunch of 10-year-old kids?" Breen said.

"These people are here because of foreign policy. They're refugees."

Linda Hendrickson said she's here "strictly for religious reasons."

"I'm here out of my religious duty," she said, which is to help the poor and the oppressed.

The crowd is thinning out significantly. It seems there are much more pro-undocumented immigrant supporters at this point.

-Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (3:47 p.m.): Protesters and pro-undocumented immigrant supporters were asked to deescalate the situation by a police officer. Also, pro-undocumented immigrant supporters can be seen joining hands and dancing in a circle as a man outside of the circle heckles them. A woman responds by shouting "Go back to Europe!"

-Ricardo Cano

UPDATE (3:39 p.m.):

Mexican superstar Lupillo Rivera was seen leaving the crowd in Murrieta at about 3 p.m. with a few other people.

Dressed down in basketball shorts, a T-shirt, sandals and a hat, the banda artist waved to the few that recognized him as he passed.

-Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (2:45 p.m.): The crowd has thinned out quite a bit, though people continue to come and go.

Pro-undocumented immigrant supporters propped a "man" made of tape on their shoulders. The figure held a flag and wore a red baseball cap with the Mexican flag on it. He had a white T-shirt on that said "I love immigrants."

More police officers have stepped into the small barrier separating supporters from protesters. They are standing silently in a line between the crowd.

- Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (2:49 p.m.): A pro-undocumented immigrant group prays and sings in Murrieta.

- Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (1:50 p.m.): An ambulance carrying a woman who appeared to be extremely dehydrated just left. A relative also joined her in the ambulance.

- Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (1:49 p.m.): A woman was put in an ambulance after suffering from apparent heat exhaustion.

Though Border Patrol agents originally sat her down and fed her lots of liquids, the woman kept complaining of pain and kept telling officers that she couldn't breath.

She was put into an ambulance about 20 minutes after Border Patrol agents started treating her. Her tank top was drenched in sweat.

It's currently 89 degrees and mostly sunny in Murrieta, according to AccuWeather.com. The humidity is 38 percent.

- Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (1:07 p.m.): Alberto Posadas of Murrieta showed up at the Murrieta Border Patrol station with his two young nephews and other family members to show his support for the the undocumented immigrants.

"I'm here because I believe that we're a country based on laws," he said.

Posadas said it doesn't matter how they got here — the fact is they're here.

When asked why he's here on the 4th of July, Posadas said:

"I think it's a perfect day to be here and express your opinion. I'm delighted to see people here regardless of their opinion."

Meanwhile, Mike Silveira said he supports legal immigration, but is worried about the undocumented immigrants that are coming into the country.

"I'm more worried about the people already here," he said. "I think we need to lock down our borders."

Silveira said his family immigrated legally from Portugal.

- Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (12:49 p.m.): Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone, a Temecula Republican who is campaigning for the 28th state Senate District, has sent President Obama an open letter. The letter is below.

Dear Mr. President:

As local elected officials, we are deeply concerned about the lack of enforcement of the U.S. border, specifically, in the Rio Grande region of Texas. It is our understanding that the Mexican Cartels are now involved in human trafficking and bringing frightened and traumatized women and children on a dangerous journey through Mexico to the U.S. border where they are promised safe haven. We have also learned from your local border patrol management, that Mexico is aiding and abetting this process by issuing thousands of work visas to Central American migrants (30,000 issued in June alone), not to satisfy the employment needs of Mexico, but rather, to provide a pathway to the United States border with Texas. As a result, unprecedented numbers of migrants are reaching the borders and are willingly giving up to border patrol agents. This surge, that is not likely to diminish, is overwhelming the Texas Border Patrol staffing and migrants are being flown to California with the goal of being transported to the Murrieta Border Patrol Station. This is seriously impacting the limited resources at the Murrieta Station and the surrounding community. This is unacceptable, inappropriate, and more importantly, potentially unlawful.

In response to this situation, a town hall meeting was held in Murrieta Wednesday evening, July 2nd. Outrage turned into concern and fear for the medical needs and immunizations of the many children and families amongst the migrants. There is substantial concern for the health, safety, and protection of local residents from communicable diseases that the County Department of Public Health regularly provides for the county's residents.

As a result of this town hall meeting, which was attended by over 1500 constituents, we are recommending the following mitigations to this federally induced humanitarian debacle:

- Immediately close and secure the border and send a message to traveling migrants and future Central American migrants that they will not be admitted into the U.S.

- In the event that some migrants do enter the U.S., engage FEMA to set up temporary repositories at the Rio Grande Border Patrol station for these migrants to be processed, and promptly send a team of federal immigration judges to this facility for expeditious hearings and organize prompt deportations as ordered.

- Deploy either more border patrol agents to the Rio Grande Border Patrol field office to appropriately respond to this surge until it comes to an end, or, augment the Border Patrol with National Guard or U.S. military personnel. We must not lose sight of terrorist's or the drug cartel's strategy to "tie up" the U.S. Border Patrol office's time in detaining and processing this surge of immigrants at the expense of national security or the cartel's ultimate goal of exporting dangerous drugs across the border unabated.

- Help these traumatized and frightened human beings by engaging the Federal Health and Human Services Department to provide for appropriate humanitarian care prior to their impending deportations. Americans have always been willing to provide humanitarian care to anyone.

- Convene a meeting with the United States Ambassador to Mexico, and the Mexican Consulate, and urge them to ask for a cease and desist order for any further issuance of work visas to Central American citizens that simply pass through Mexico and cause this surge of migrant travel to the U.S. border.

- Set up a mechanism for local governments, fiscally strained by this great recession, to be reimbursed for services provided that are a Federal immigration responsibility.

Mr. President, as this unabated migrant surge continues, these traumatized and frightened human beings are being placed in danger, exploiting them for the failed border policies of the federal government. Please safeguard the border immediately, and continue to work with Congress to address these important immigration issues. Mayor Alan Long, of the City of Murrieta, and I, request an opportunity to meet with you and discuss possible strategies to resolve this immigration issue. We would be delighted to come to Washington to meet with you. Thank you for your kind consideration.

Sincerely,

JEFF STONE

Supervisor, Third District

UPDATE (12:31 p.m.): At least one protester was arrested Friday outside the Border Patrol station in Murrieta.

The protester was seen calmly walking towards a police squad car, as demonstrators both opposing and supporting the federal government's recent migrant policies lined a rural road and shouted at each other.

CBS2 identified the arrested protester as Larry Spencer, and said police told them he was charged with delaying a police officer.

"It's a free speech issue," Spencer told the station, as he vowed "I am not going anywhere."

- City News Service

UPDATE (12:29 p.m.): Protesters outside the Border Patrol station in Murrieta shout "USA."

- Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (12:16 p.m.): A large crowd has gathered outside the Border Patrol station in Murrieta.

- Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (12:12 p.m.): A group of Aztec dancers in traditional garb dance as a drum plays in the background.

- Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (11:59 a.m.): Raquel Alvarado stood in the crowd decked out in stars and bright red and white attire.

"It's the land of the free and of the brave. We all deserve to be here.""I'm here to remind people that America is a melting pot and that this is a country of foreigners," said Alvarado, of Murrieta. She is a naturalized citizen.

She held a poster reminding people that thousands of immigrants came in through Ellis Island.

Meanwhile, Erica Young stood holding a U.S. flag. Dressed in red, white and blue, Young said allowing the entry of undocumented immigrants goes against the U.S. Constitution.

Young said Obama needs to begin deporting more immigrants and strengthening border security.

"This has nothing to do with race, ethnicity or religion," she said. "This is where we draw a line in the sand and say, "enough."

The crowd gets rowdy at times and shouting matches break out, but things are most under control.

- Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (11:23 a.m.): The scene is chaotic, as undocumented immigrant supporters have come face- to-face with protesters.

A group of Aztec dancers in traditional garb is commanding the attention of the crowd, dancing as a drum plays in the background. They're shouting, "let our children go" and "immigrants are welcome here, no papers, no fear." They're also chanting in Spanish, "We are here and we're not leaving."

At the same time, anti-immigrant protesters hold U.S. flags and posters reading "STOP illegal immigration" and "ILLEGAL is a crime."

- Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (11:00 a.m.): At least one protester was arrested today outside the Border Patrol station in Murrieta, as tensions rose among protesters from both sides of the immigration issue.

The protester was seen calmly walking towards a police squad car, as demonstrators both opposing and supporting the federal government's recent migrant policies lined a rural road and shouted at each other.

Meanwhile, both the mayor and city manager of Murrieta have said the Tuesday blockade of three buses by relocation opponents has given the city a "black eye" -- an image that does not reflect the "compassionate and caring" nature of the city.

"We have been challenged and in some ways we fell down in the face of the challenge" presented by protesters who succeeded in blocking three buses from arriving at the Murrieta Border Patrol station, city manager Rick Dudley wrote in an open letter posted Thursday night.

Since the protest, long sections of rural roadways near the Border Patrol station have been marked "no parking," and both sides of the issue have been given assembly areas. But law enforcement officials have said a repeat of Tuesday's blockade of three buses, presumably carrying women and children, will not be allowed.

Persons who support a more-humane immigration policy, and opponents of the federal immigration policy, have squared off. Police kept the two sides apart, but reporters said screaming and yelling was common.

The gate to the Border Patrol station was protected by several dozen police today, as about 140 women and children from Central America was rumored to be heading from San Diego to the Murrieta station. There, they are to be processed and in many cases, released to travel.

On Monday, Murrieta mayor Alan Long appeared on national television and encouraged residents to protest the use of the federal facility in Murrieta.

On Tuesday, swarms of people blocked three buses heading into the post, presumably with women and children fleeing strife and poverty in Central America on board.

And on Thursday, city manager Rick Dudley posted a letter on the city's website which defended the right to protest, but expressed sadness at the results.

"This was not a victory," the letter said.

"It was a loss for the City of Murrieta ... It made this extremely compassionate community look heartless and uncaring.

"That is not the Murrieta that we know and love," he wrote. "The unfortunate acts at Tuesday's protest ... were not representative of our community."

Conservative talk radio station hosts in Los Angeles and San Diego were urging listeners to drive to Murrieta to protest, and Spanish-language radio station were urging counter protests.

- By City News Service

UPDATE (10:06 a.m.): Protesters arrived at the Murrieta Border Patrol Station late Thursday evening in anticipation of a second group of immigrants expected to arrive by bus on Friday.

By Friday morning, a larger crowd of protesters had made it to the Murrieta Border Patrol station, awaiting more buses expected to bring 140 additional undocumented immigrants into their city.

Those opposed to the transfer say they're afraid the influx of immigrants will drain local health, housing and medical resources and services.

- By Tatiana Sanchez

UPDATE (10:06 a.m.): As Americans celebrate the Fourth of July, elected leaders and residents in Murrieta are bracing themselves for the second group of undocumented immigrants set to arrive in their city by bus Friday.

The first wave — about 300 people — arrived there Tuesday and in El Centro on Wednesday.

Protesters in Murrieta blocked part of the first group of families to arrive. The bus, carrying about 140 migrants, was unexpectedly taken to an undisclosed location in San Diego.

Additional buses of 140 undocumented immigrants will arrive every three days in both locations as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection tries to address the overcrowded facilities in Texas' Rio Grande Valley, which has seen an unprecedented spike in illegal crossings since October.

- By Tatiana Sanchez