Bellflower : Latin Group Proceeds With Plan to Honor INS Official

Officials of a Bellflower Latino organization say they are ignoring threats that fellow Latino leaders will picket a reception tonight in honor of Harold Ezell, regional commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, if the event is not canceled.

The League of United Latin American Citizens’ (LULAC) Bellflower council has scheduled the reception at the El Torito restaurant in Costa Mesa to thank Ezell for working closely with the council in publicizing the amnesty program, local LULAC officials said.

But officials of other Latino groups have been harshly critical of Ezell and the immigration service’s policies toward Latino immigrants.

Members of LULAC’s Santa Ana council, Los Amigos of Orange County, United Latino Democrats, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Hermandad Mexicana Nacional (National Mexican Brotherhood) said they will demonstrate in front of the restaurant, located near the South Coast Plaza Hotel.

Orange County and state LULAC officials have asked the national organization to revoke the Bellflower council’s charter and expel its leaders from the group for honoring Ezell.