John Lugo and Kica Matos discussed the flyers on La Voz Del Migrante on WNHH FM radio.
Someone distributed dozens of anti-immigrant flyers around the East Rock neighborhood on Wednesday morning, in the wake of a blitz of immigration-restricting executive orders that newly inaugurated President Donald Trump set in motion.
East Rock neighbors as well as the city’s Public Works department swiftly cleaned up the flyers, which had been littered in droves throughout the neighborhood — and which were met with condemnation from local officials, neighbors and immigrant advocates.
The front side of the flyer stated “Get out! Nobody wants you here” in ten different languages.
It continued in English: “Mayor Elicker and Attorney General Tong Can’t Protect You and Your Family From Being Locked Up In Jail.”
On the opposite side: “Deportation Now … Report all illegal immigrants and those harboring them,” with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) phone number printed.
The identity of the person or group who left these flyers is not currently known.
At least one neighbor contacted the police department about the flyers.
When asked about the police response to the flyer, District Manager Jarrell Lowery wrote in a text message, “At this point it is considered free speech, so it’s not a police matter at this point, but it could if it becomes criminal in nature at any point (i.e- threats of violence are made, etc) … I am closely monitoring the situation.”
“It’s awful and it’s completely unacceptable. It’s just completely unacceptable,” said East Rock/Fair Haven Alder Caroline Smith, whose ward encompasses the area where the flyers were left.
To immigrants in her ward, she emphasized, “You are completely and totally welcome here in our city — in your city. Full stop.”
Smith noted that she had heard from several neighbors who worked to remove the flyers on their respective streets, including one high school student who collected and discarded 30 of them.
“That’s what New Haven is — a group of neighbors rallying together to push back against hate,” Smith said.
Immigrant rights activist John Lugo of Unidad Latina en Acción (ULA) said the flyer wasn’t necessarily surprising.
“Trump just pardoned 1,500 people” arrested for their role in the January 6 riots, he said. “I think it’s going to embolden a lot of white supremacists.”
Lugo said that the flyers were ultimately “a distraction” as real fears of ICE enforcement rise.
“This is not the first time that hate has come to visit our community. And every time they come, we send them packing,” wrote Kica Matos of the National Immigration Law Center in a text message.
“Hate has no place in New Haven,” Matos continued. “We will continue to welcome all, including immigrants. It is part of what makes us such a beloved community.”