Immigration's Happy Warrior

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A dabbler in sales and real estate before working his way into a vice presidency at Wienerschnitzel International, the California-based hot-dog chain, Ezell had never been in law enforcement. But he had worked for Ronald Reagan's gubernatorial and presidential campaigns in California, knew both present and past Attorneys General Edwin Meese and William French Smith, and was appointed to his job by Smith in 1983.

Ezell's views and tactics have led to charges that he is insensitive to ethnic problems and prone to wild exaggeration. "He's a scaremonger," insists Herman Baca, chairman of the San Diego-based Committtee on Chicano Rights. The men who work for him praise him highly. "He's a fresh breath," says Ed Kelliher, an INS supervisory inspector. "His aggressiveness is turning morale around."

Reveling in the admiration of his subordinates and oblivious to the accusations of his critics, Ezell cruises merrily along in his Government Chevy equipped with two police radios and a radiotelephone. Talking about his forays down to the border, he says, "I come down to keep the fires burning in me." In truth, it does not take much to heat up this flamboyant INS commissioner. --By Ed Magnuson. Reported by Richard Woodbury/Los Angeles