Months after a police raid on this house sent immigrants fleeing from police who had come to help them, the city has put in place a policy to protect the identity of those who call 911. It’s the first policy of its kind in Connecticut.
The general order, which will be introduced to police Thursday, prohibits city cops from asking the immigration status of a victim or a witness of crime, unless that person is suspected of criminal activity. Click here to read the full document.
The order also protects a variety of confidential information: “an individual’s sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault, status as a crime witness, recipient of public assistance, or immigration status.”
Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. said the policy aims to aid a “universe of people” in the city who are fearful of reporting crimes. As this man’s death highlighted, undocumented workers who can’t get bank accounts and carry lots of cash around become targets of violent attacks.
“Whether it’s a woman who doesn’t report that she’s a victim of domestic violence, or someone who’s the victim of a robbery because of racial profiling, this will be a help in creating civil neighborhoods for everyone,” said DeStefano.
The police department under Police Chief Cisco Ortiz has long had an unwritten policy that immigrants who call police for help won’t be asked for immigration papers.
An Independent report this summer revealed that “policy” was not always followed: Mexican immigrants living in squalid conditions on Elm Street called police to report a theft and ended up fleeing their own house, and eventually moving out, after a police man who came to the door told them he’d report them to the feds.
Since then, the city has been at work with immigrant advocates to draft a written policy by which police will be trained, that establishes clear guidelines for what police can and should report. After some resistance from the police union, but all sides came to agreement after a six-months process.
“Police officers shall not inquire about a person’s immigration status unless investigating criminal activity,” states the order, signed by Chief Ortiz.
City cops must continue to cooperate with the feds, but cannot detain someone “solely on the belief that he or she is not present legally in the United States, or that he or she has committed a civil immigration violation,” according to the order.
The new policy will be introduced to cops at line-up Thursday. Sunday begins a public information campaign through clergy and public forums in immigrant communities. Next Thursday, police will begin training on the new rules, said DeStefano.
Kica Matos, head of JUNTA for Progressive Action, welcomed the news with glee. She was part of the team who drafted the proposal.
New Haven will become the first municipality in the state to draft a policy rejecting the expansion of enforcement of immigration laws. New Haven will be the 69th municipality or government agency to do so, she said.
While in the past the immigrant community has still remained afraid to call 911 despite PD promises, Matos said knowing the policy is written now, and that police are trained, will improve the sense of “security and safety” in communities like Fair Haven.
In addition, Matos announced a new partnership between JUNTA and Sovereign Bank: The bank has agreed to start accepting the Mexican consular ID for those opening bank accounts.
Wednesday afternoon, DeStefano was on his way to meet with New Haven Register staff to personally explain the policy. The last time he announced he was considering municipal IDs for immigrants, a front-page Register story caused quite a scare.
Is this new policy sending a message that New Haven encourages illegal immigration? “It’s not going to have a practical effect on condoning illegal immigration,” said the mayor. “What this is about is making the Hill, Fair Haven and New Haven’s neighborhoods a safer place.”