Costa Mesa’s illegal-immigration crackdown highlights the fears of many - California

“In a city that has clashed loudly and publicly over immigration laws, the arrest of Marcelino Tzir Tzul underscored the worst fears in Costa Mesas Latino community.

The 37-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala was picked up for riding his bicycle on the wrong side of the street, brought before a federal agent at the city jail and then shipped to a federal lockup to await his likely deportation.

For months, Latino activists had worried that Costa Mesas decision to become one of the nations first cities to enforce federal immigration laws would result in people such as Tzir being swept off the streets. “

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