[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

It's a crowded field in the 34th AD Republican primary, but if Assembly Republican candidate Bob Smith bests his opponents on June 3rd, he'll bring with him the mutual embrace of the highly controversial vigilante anti-immigration group, the Minuteman Civil Defenses Corps.

Reports the Visalia Times-Delta:

"California Assembly candidate Bob Smith is getting some help in his campaign from a Minuteman.

Specifically, the help is coming from Chris Simcox, founder and president of the controversial Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a group of private citizens that, among other things, regularly patrols portions of the U.S.-Mexico border looking for undocumented immigrants trying to cross unnoticed by U.S. Border Patrol officers. ...

There's more...

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Robert Cruickshank

Mimi Walters appears to be running one of the wingnuttiest campaigns in California history in her bid to get elected to the State Senate. Last week we told you of her proud affiliation with the Howard Jarvis Association at the expense of California schools. Now she is touting her anti-immigrant credentials, even at the cost of fiscal responsibility on the state budget.

Republicans who have made immigration a campaign centerpiece have fared pretty poorly at the ballot box. So while that might suggest silence while California Republicans prepare another immigration-focused campaign, my respect for common sense and human rights forces me to speak up.

Mimi has sent out two pieces of mail to her constituents in recent days playing up her anti-immigrant stance. In a glossy mailer she not only lists her support for various immigrant-bashing measures such as cutting off social services and forbidding something like the DREAM Act - but she also engages in an overtly racist attack on Latinos.

by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

I've seen some sniping about driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants in the presidential race, and I just don't get it. Perhaps granting driver's licenses is a reasonable framing for the state level, but it simply is not an issue that our president will need to address. And at any rate, both candidates support them. You see they both support comprehensive immigration reform.

From Senator Clinton:

Hillary has consistently called for comprehensive immigration reform that respects our immigrant heritage and honors the rule of law. She believes comprehensive reform must have as essential ingredients a strengthening of our borders, greater cross-cooperation with our neighbors, strict but fair enforcement of our laws, federal assistance to our state and local governments, strict penalties for those who exploit undocumented workers, and a path to earned legal status for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes, respecting the law, and willing to meet a high bar. (Emphasis added, HillaryClinton.com)

From Senator Obama:

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Brian Leubitz
Founder and Publisher
Calitics

It would be odd, as that's you know, against the law. However, we have multiple reports of the San Diego sheriff handing over "suspected illegal aliens" to border patrol agents. So, as it currently stands, several neighborhoods have checkpoints to enter, purportedly to prevent looting. However, if undocumented immigrants enter, the Sheriff intends to hand them over to Border Patrol agents.

Not only is this unwise and a poor use of resources, but it is also likely illegal. Below, I've posted a press release from the ACLU with more details (hat tip to NarcoSphere). Concerned community leaders are urged to communicate with Sheriff Kolender and Undersheriff Bill Gore at (858) 974-2250 or bill.Gore@sdsheriff.org.

According to the San Diego ACLU:

• As evacuation orders are lifted on San Diego County communities, Sheriff Kolender plans to check i.d. of returning residents at checkpoints and continue his practice of detaining and handing over people suspected of being undocumented to U.S. Border Patrol.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

It would be odd, as that's you know, against the law.  However, we have multiple reports of the San Diego sheriff handing over "suspected illegal aliens" to border patrol agents. So, as it currently stands, several neighborhoods have checkpoints to enter, purportedly to prevent looting. However, if undocumented immigrants enter, the Sheriff intends to hand them over to Border Patrol agents.

Not only is this unwise and a poor use of resources, but it is also likely illegal. Over the flip, I've posted a press release from the ACLU with more details (h/t to NarcoSphere).  Concerned community leaders  are urged to communicate with Sheriff Kolender and Undersheriff Bill Gore at (858) 974-2250 or bill.Gore@sdsheriff.org.

According to the San Diego ACLU:

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Two more bodies were found in a home in Poway, bringing the current official tally to three, but many more undocumented immigrants are feared dead in the canyons near the border. Over 620 square mileshave burned, or roughly half the size or Rhode Island. About 1500 residences have been destroyed in San Diego County alone. And, amazingly, more people have been evacuated from these fires than from the Katrina disaster. This is truly one of our country's most major disasters.  All that being said, the County of San Diego has already received its first request for a building permit to replace a destroyed home.

However, the actual work of controlling the fire will take some time yet. Over 5,000 firefighters are now fighting the blazes, yet