Jail feels heat of ICE

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent has become an intriguing figure in Costa Mesa both as a physical presence and a symbol of the racial tension within the city.

Since December, the federal agent has taken up residence in Costa Mesa Jail, screening arrestees for citizenship status.

Since then, more than 460 people have been flagged for immigration violations. July was the busiest — 59 people were held after being arrested on suspicion of various crimes.

Many have protested, claiming some of those detained were arrested for violations as minor as jaywalking.

Originally, Mayor Allan Mansoor and his supporters intended to train city police for immigration enforcement and target violent felons who had entered the country illegally.

“My goal is to make sure that everyone is screened. If ICE is willing to do that, absolutely, I’m going to take full advantage of that,” Mansoor said.

Last November, Jim Hayes, the Los Angeles field office director for ICE, sent a letter to Mansoor stating his plan to place an agent in Costa Mesa Jail to screen arrestees for immigration violations.

A detainer is placed on someone when “we believe that an individual is in the country unlawfully or has committed a violation of immigration law,” Hayes said. He said most of the people detained had been arrested for misdemeanors, burglaries and possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The debate started at the end of 2005 when the City Council voted to train one of the city’s officers for immigration enforcement. The idea was connected to Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona’s goal to do the same with his deputies.

City Councilwoman Katrina Foley, who voted against having city police enforce immigration laws, said she supports having the federal government handle it but added that border security needs to be addressed.