Maya McFadden Photo
Erick Sarmiento with son.
After living in New Haven for the past four years, Erick Sarmiento is now looking forward to him and his son living with fewer concerns about being harassed about immigration status.
Sarmiento offered that perspective as he joined fellow members of Unidad Latina en Acción (ULA) outside City Hall for a mayoral announcement of a new “Welcoming City” executive order.
In 2006 the New Haven Police Department (NHPD) issued General Order 06 – 2, which prohibited officers from inquiring about one’s immigration status. Thursday’s signed order extends these prohibitions of asking one’s immigration status unless required by state or federal law to all city employees.
The executive order also prohibits city employees from engaging in activities with the intention of determining one’s immigration status (unless required by state or federal law) and using city resources to enforce or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal program.
Additionally, the executive order prohibits city employees from disclosing confidential information such as a social security number, or any information regarding one’s sexual orientation, status as a crime witness, public assistance status, or immigration status.
City employees including local law enforcement, school police, and security departments are prohibited from using their resources to inquire about the immigration status of crime victims, witnesses or others who call or approach local law enforcement personnel, detain or arrest a person solely on the belief that they are not documented or that they’ve committed a civil immigration violation, detain or arrest a person based on ICE detainer requests or administrative warrants entered by ICE into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database unless required by law.
In 2007, Sarmiento, who came here from Mexico, was pulled over while borrowing a friend’s car by police officers in a different town who said he stole the car. “They pulled me over because to them I looked like someone who would steal. That’s how they see Mexicans,” he said. The officers also threatened to call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sarmiento.
The Welcoming City Executive Order reaffirms the city’s protections for all its residents including those who are undocumented and other vulnerable residents.
Mayor Justin Elicker signed this Welcoming City Executive Order on City Hall’s front steps Thursday evening with the support of local leaders and community members.
Elicker began working with ULA and other local leaders on the order in January to reaffirm New Haven’s history as an immigrant-friendly city while also strengthening its protections of residents who are undocumented.
Sarmiento said ULA will next work getting the executive order established as an ordinance. This would require approval from the Board of Alders and the chief of police he said.
Families gathered on the City Hall steps to listen. Small children of organizers and community members held up a sign reading “Nada sombre nosotros sin nosotros,” which translates to “Nothing about us, without us.”
The team’s initial goal was to have the executive order complete in Elicker’s first 100 days of his term.
Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Sarmiento said, there were rumors of federal Immigration and CUstoms Enforcement (ICE) agents being in testing clinics.
The executive order also includes new language around what is considered confidential information at the rights of New Haven residents.
“It’s vital that people who live in New Haven feel safe. And comfortable to contact the police to get the medical resources that they need,” said Elicker.
Elicker referred to the executive order’s protections as basic needs for undocumented and vulnerable New Haveners to “survive and prosper.”
ULA member Adriana Rodriquez said the work is not over after Thursday’s celebration. Rodriquez and others said the leaders need to make sure the law doesn’t just stay on paper but is enforced daily and respected by all city employees.
“Sí, se puede” the crowd chanted in between speakers transitions— “yes we can.”
Kica Matos.
“Our executive order is one of the ways that we as a city are standing up for social justice during a really important time. We’re making sure that immigrants and refugees understand that this city is their city,” said Kica Matos, director of immigrant and racial justice at Vera Institute.
Matos was a member of the mayor’s transition team, which made the recommendation that he sign this executive order.
John Lugo.
Another poster at the gathering held up read “No immigrant left behind.”
ULA organizer John Lugo of Unidad Latina en Acción said he hopes will be a blueprint for other cities to put into place.
“Other cities and municipalities can follow and do the exact same thing…protect members of our community,” said Miguel Castro, a former Meriden City Council member.
Watch the video below for the full event.
Mayor Elicker Signs Welcoming City Emergency Order
Posted by New Haven Independent on Thursday, July 23, 2020
It's good to see the City acting on behalf of immigrants and refugees, especially when you know that US policies created some of the dangerous situations people had to flee to survive.