Issues of immigration, privacy rights clash in Vista

LA Times ^ | September 20, 2007 | Tony Perry

[LNewman]

ACLU sues to block the city's release of names of residents who obtain a permit to hire day laborers. Newspapers oppose the bid.

The often-emotional debate over immigration roiling cities across the country has morphed here into an unusual clash between individual privacy rights and public access to governmental records.

The privacy rights at issue are not those of the immigrants but of the residents who hire them as day laborers from ad hoc hiring centers ...

The government records in dispute are permits Vista City Hall issues to residents wishing to hire laborers. Many of the laborers are illegal immigrants, to the consternation of anti-illegal immigration activists.

Under a controversial ordinance adopted last year, residents are required to get a hiring permit -- which is accompanied by information about immigration and workers' compensation laws and a sample "contract" in English and Spanish.

The American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial counties filed a lawsuit in July to block disclosure of the names, addresses and phone numbers of permit recipients after a Vista resident aligned with an offshoot of the anti-illegal immigration group the Minutemen requested an updated list.

A San Diego County Superior Court judge today will hear arguments from both sides as he considers the ACLU's request for a permanent order barring release of the names.

Judge Michael Orfield on July 9 issued a temporary restraining order until attorneys could file their written arguments.

The ACLU is concerned that residents hiring day laborers could be harassed by activists opposing illegal immigration ...

A coalition of newspapers and the California Newspaper Publishers Assn. is opposing the ACLU's bid.

So is a Washington, D.C.-based group, the Immigration Reform Law Institute, which argues in favor of tougher enforcement of immigration laws.

[LNewman]

How about ACLU seeks to protect lawbreakers?

[Snoopers-868th]

Either Government is in the sun or it isn’t. Why should business be an exception and allowed to secret their permits?

[Exton1]

Now if they wanted to show those who had bought guns, it would be a different story.

[wastedyears]

People carry concealed for a reason.

[G L Tirebiter]

Gee - I thought it was going to be another interesting Microsoft OS story. Never mind...

[gubamyster]

ping

[Shots]

I have always been under the impression if some one applies for a permit it becomes a matter of public record. If fact I know if a neighbor wants to remodel and requests any kind of variance they have to inform me. So what gives the ACLU the right to deny me my right of knowing who is seeking a permit??

[Travis McGee]

U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,

and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"

---

Invasion: \In*va"sion\, n. [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.] [1913 Webster]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

QUISLING: a synonym for traitor, someone who collaborates with the invaders of his country.

Current federal law 8USC 1373(a) PROHIBITS SANCTUARY CITIES. It reads as follows:

"Notwithstanding any other provision of federal, state, or local law, a federal, state, or local government entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual."