Costa Mesa Must Next Rescind Alien Policy

When it came to switching positions on an issue, Costa Mesa Mayor Peter F. Buffa didn’t go far enough, but he did take a commendable step in the right direction Tuesday when he abandoned the council majority that last month voted 3 to 2 to withhold money from any group that helps illegal immigrants.

At Buffa’s suggestion, the council, in another controversial 3-2 vote, made compliance with the misguided measure voluntary for at least a year. Technically, however, the policy remains on the books and conceivably could be made mandatory again.

The mayor should have acted to rescind the prejudicial policy entirely. And no doubt he will if lawyers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, who are looking into the city’s action, advise that the new ordinance is unconstitutional. HUD is also looking into whether the city policy violates federal guidelines against discrimination on the basis of national origin.

Money, specifically $809,000 in HUD Community Development Block Grant funds that the city could possibly lose in pursuing its ruthless policy against illegal immigrants, seems to influence the council majority where good judgment and compassion have failed.

HUD advised the city not to implement the policy as it related to the block grant funds “until further notice.” HUD’s concern was one major factor that prompted Buffa to switch and join the two council members, Mary Hornbuckle and Sandra L. Genis, who originally opposed the so-called anti-alien funding policy.

We suspect Buffa also realized the difficulty the city would have in trying to police a measure that would have hurt dozens of charitable and service organizations and, as a practical matter, is virtually impossible to enforce. As noted by Rebecca Jurado of the American Civil Liberties Union, the law, if taken literally and carried to its ridiculous end, would also mean that city services, such as police, could not be provided to people who are undocumented.

Whatever his motivation, Buffa’s reversal from the hard-line position taken by Councilman Orville Amburgey was anything but “cowardly,” as Amburgey has charged. Amburgey, who is the architect and strong advocate of the anti-alien ordinance said, “Nothing has changed since (Buffa) first voted to support this measure and it is saddening that the city’s top leader doesn’t have the courage to do what he thinks is right.” Amburgey is wrong on all counts.

Buffa did what politicians too seldom do--he changed his mind. Far from being cowardly, he displayed political courage by reversing himself and doing what he thought was right--which is exactly the right thing to do.

Amburgey is wrong on another point. Something has changed since Costa Mesa passed the original policy. In addition to HUD’s response, residents--and other communities--are now far more aware of the ramifications and unfairness of pursuing a policy like Costa Mesa’s that tries to give government the ability to dictate to religious and charitable organizations who they can feed, clothe and shelter.

Mayor Buffa should continue to display leadership and political courage by taking the next logical step. He should now act to rescind the policy. It should be dropped, not to ensure the receipt of federal funds but because it would be hardhearted and hardheaded to continue to have it as official policy, even with voluntary compliance.