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| Six arrested as Southern California demonstrators clash over immigration | Six arrested as Southern California demonstrators clash over immigration |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Six people were arrested on 4th July after demonstrators from dueling sides of the immigration debate clashed outside a US Border Patrol station in Murrieta, California, where a convoy of busses carrying some of the Central American migrants flooding the US-Mexico border was expected to arrive. | Six people were arrested on 4th July after demonstrators from dueling sides of the immigration debate clashed outside a US Border Patrol station in Murrieta, California, where a convoy of busses carrying some of the Central American migrants flooding the US-Mexico border was expected to arrive. |
| This was the second demonstration this week, after protestors blocked buses carrying migrant children and adults, forcing them to be rerouted. | This was the second demonstration this week, after protestors blocked buses carrying migrant children and adults, forcing them to be rerouted. |
| Murrieta police lieutenant Jon Flavin told the Guardian that police arrested six people on Friday. Early Friday morning a protestor was arrested for disobeying a police officer, according to police. | Murrieta police lieutenant Jon Flavin told the Guardian that police arrested six people on Friday. Early Friday morning a protestor was arrested for disobeying a police officer, according to police. |
| Around 200 people gathered at the station, waving signs and sometimes shouting at each other. The AP reported that one banner read: "Proud LEGAL American. It doesn't work any other way." Another countered: "Against illegal immigration? Great! Go back to Europe!" | Around 200 people gathered at the station, waving signs and sometimes shouting at each other. The AP reported that one banner read: "Proud LEGAL American. It doesn't work any other way." Another countered: "Against illegal immigration? Great! Go back to Europe!" |
| The transfers are in reaction to an exodus of children fleeing Central American countries for the US, which has overwhelmed southern Texas' border facilities – a situation the Obama administration haslabelled a “humanitarian crisis”. | |
| Since October, more than 52,000 undocumented children have been detained after fleeing crime, violence and poverty in their native countries including Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras,. To alleviate the pressure, US authorities are transporting migrant families to other Texas cities and to southern California for processing. | Since October, more than 52,000 undocumented children have been detained after fleeing crime, violence and poverty in their native countries including Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras,. To alleviate the pressure, US authorities are transporting migrant families to other Texas cities and to southern California for processing. |
| Following Tuesday’s rally, the US Department of Homeland Security said it will no longer publicize immigrant transfers among border patrol sectors because of security concerns. | Following Tuesday’s rally, the US Department of Homeland Security said it will no longer publicize immigrant transfers among border patrol sectors because of security concerns. |
| Initially, DHS had said busloads of migrants would arrive at the city's border patrol station every third day beginning on 1 July. The demonstrators turned up on Independence Day in anticipation of this, though, it’s not clear if any buses actually arrived. The crowd had mostly cleared by late afternoon, AP said. | Initially, DHS had said busloads of migrants would arrive at the city's border patrol station every third day beginning on 1 July. The demonstrators turned up on Independence Day in anticipation of this, though, it’s not clear if any buses actually arrived. The crowd had mostly cleared by late afternoon, AP said. |
| The Murrieta protests have laid bare the nation’s deep divide over immigration. | The Murrieta protests have laid bare the nation’s deep divide over immigration. |
| "This is a way of making our voices heard," Steve Prime, a nearby resident, told the AP. "The government's main job is to secure our borders and protect us and they're doing neither." | "This is a way of making our voices heard," Steve Prime, a nearby resident, told the AP. "The government's main job is to secure our borders and protect us and they're doing neither." |
| However, those who support immigration reform said that people fleeing violence and crippling poverty in their native countries should be treated with respect and dignity, not criminalized. | However, those who support immigration reform said that people fleeing violence and crippling poverty in their native countries should be treated with respect and dignity, not criminalized. |
| "We're celebrating the 4th of July and what a melting pot America is," a resident Raquel Alvarado told the AP. | "We're celebrating the 4th of July and what a melting pot America is," a resident Raquel Alvarado told the AP. |
| Murrieta’s mayor, Alan Long, has received backlash for his comments that some say pre-empted Tuesday’s rally. On Monday, Long urged residents to speak out against the US government’s decision to transport some of the migrants overwhelming Texas border facilities to the city. | Murrieta’s mayor, Alan Long, has received backlash for his comments that some say pre-empted Tuesday’s rally. On Monday, Long urged residents to speak out against the US government’s decision to transport some of the migrants overwhelming Texas border facilities to the city. |
| “Murrieta expects our government to enforce our laws, including the deportation of illegal immigrants caught crossing our borders, not disperse them into our local communities,” he said at a news conference on Monday. | “Murrieta expects our government to enforce our laws, including the deportation of illegal immigrants caught crossing our borders, not disperse them into our local communities,” he said at a news conference on Monday. |
| On 3 July, Murrieta City Manager Rick Dudley addressed the city’s residents – and attempting to clarify the mayor’s comments – in a statement posted on its website. | On 3 July, Murrieta City Manager Rick Dudley addressed the city’s residents – and attempting to clarify the mayor’s comments – in a statement posted on its website. |
| “Protesters came from around the southland to oppose the arrival of undocumented immigrants to Murrieta for processing.” Dudley wrote. “In the face of the protest, three buses were turned around and the protesters claimed victory. This was not victory. It was a loss for the city of Murrieta, for the community that we live in and love. It made this extremely compassionate community look heartless and uncaring. That is [not] the Murrieta that we all know and love.” | |
| The mayor and residents of Nogales, Arizona have had a more positive reaction to the migrant drop offs, donating clothing and other items to the Border Patrol warehouse where hundreds of children are being temporarily housed. | The mayor and residents of Nogales, Arizona have had a more positive reaction to the migrant drop offs, donating clothing and other items to the Border Patrol warehouse where hundreds of children are being temporarily housed. |
| In New Mexico, however, residents in Artesia spoke out against a detention center that recently started housing immigrants, citing fears that the migrants would take jobs and resources from US citizens. | In New Mexico, however, residents in Artesia spoke out against a detention center that recently started housing immigrants, citing fears that the migrants would take jobs and resources from US citizens. |