NEWS STORY OF THE YEAR:Immigration debate raged on

The controversy over illegal immigration and the Laguna Beach Day Labor Center topped local news in 2006. The issue was rarely out of the press and drew national attention to Laguna Beach as the entire country grappled with the larger issue of illegal immigration.

In early January, in a single week, the Minuteman Project and others fighting illegal immigration rallied at the Laguna Beach Day Labor Center in Laguna Canyon and then in City Council chambers as part of a nationwide campaign against day labor centers and the hiring of unauthorized workers.

Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist joined others asking the council to close the center, which he claimed is a magnet for illegals.

On Jan. 27, Gilchrist’s Minuteman Project sued the Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade Assn., accusing the group of unfairly excluding it from the March 4 parade. Parade sponsors said they did not want a political statement to be made in a parade that is dedicated to “inclusiveness.”

In February, Orange County Superior Court Judge Michael Brenner ruled that the Parade Assn. has the legal right to decide who marches in the event.

Parade Assn. Attorney Gene Gratz reached an out-of-court settlement to guarantee that Gilchrist supporters would stay out of Laguna Beach on parade day with an offer to waive attorney’s fees to defend the parade group in the suit.

The parade proceeded without incident and the attorney’s fees were waived.

In March, immigration reform became the top issue in races for sixth district supervisor and state senate.

May’s national “Day Without An Immigrant” boycott failed to close down any hotels or restaurants in Laguna Beach, but the Day Labor Center closed its doors for the day and anti-illegal immigration protesters gathered at the site.

On June 28, it was discovered that the Day Labor Center is located on Caltrans property and had no operating permit from the state. The state agency ordered the 10-year-old center closed immediately, but the center remained operating while city and state officials met to discuss the matter.

In July, Caltrans officials agreed to lease the parcel to the city for 12 months while city officials work out a purchase agreement. Caltrans had determined that the parcel is not needed for state transportation purposes.

“Both Caltrans and the city believe [the lease] is a pragmatic solution, at least in the short term,” City Manager Ken Frank said at the time.

Frank’s announcement during a City Council meeting was greeted with applause and boos from an audience of about 100, more than half of whom advocated closing the center.

“The site encourages illegal immigration,” Laguna Beach resident George Riviere said. “I am sick and tired of being attacked as a racist. This is about the law.”

On Aug. 1, Labor Center opponents stepped up their campaign with a visit by Los Angeles homeless advocate Ted Hayes, who complained again to the City Council about the continued operation of the site, while protesters demonstrated.

“Illegal immigrants are turned into slaves,” Hayes told the council. “As a descendant of slaves, I will not allow anyone to make anyone a slave. Close down that site.”

The site made the news again the next month when two men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder Sept. 17 after an alleged attack on laborers, following an apparent argument over the terms of work. The suspects were released 48 hours later with no charges filed. Police are still investigating the incident, but have cleared the Minuteman Project of any involvement.

In October, Laguna Beach residents Eileen Garcia and her husband George Riviere filed a lawsuit with Judicial Watch, a Washington, D.C.-based conservative group, seeking to force the city to halt taxpayer funding of the center, claiming the city funding violates federal law.