Local politicos disagree on border wall

President Donald Trump’s executive order to build a wall doesn’t sit well with newly elected 24h District Rep. Salud Carbajal, but former supervisor Mike Stoker said it’s about time.

“I think this is a symbolic gesture of hate and xenophobia,” said Carbajal.

Carbajal said it does nothing to secure our borders and will create more hatred towards immigrants.

As an immigrant who grew up in Oxnard, Carbajal said he’s proud of his family’s contribution.

“It’s a waste of taxpayer money,” said Carbajal who called it a “boondoggle.” He said the money could be better spent on education and child care.

Former Santa Barbara County Supervisor Mike Stoker disagrees.

The agriculture attorney said he is an executive committee member of the Agricultural Coalition for Immigration Reform.

Stoker said for the first time we have an administration committed to protecting the border.

“The wall is going to get built, the only debate is how we are going to pay for it. I think that is positive for this country,” said Stoker.

Stoker said a fee to cross the border could help.

Both men said immigration reform should be a priority.

“I think there are a number of proposals in Congress looking at comprehensive immigration reform which is really what will address our broken immigration system,” said Carbajal.

“As a person who has worked for immigration reform for 25 years, it has been very frustrating, it has been like the movie “Groundhog Day” I’ve always thought with Trump and a Republican Congress we have the best chance to get it,” said Stoker.

Stoker was a panelist at a forum entitled, “Undocumented under Trump” at Oxnard College on Wednesday night.

Before the event he said Republicans are only willing to offer millions of immigrants work permits not a pathway to citizenship and voting. He called that the political sticking point.