Mayor John DeStefano’s pro-immigrant policies landed him a national TV encounter with celebrity immigrant-basher Lou Dobbs — who proceeded to lambaste him for “flouting” federal law and allegedly undermining immigration raids.
CNN’s popular talking head, a staunch opponent of amnesty for illegal immigrants, gave the mayor a three-second speaking appearance on “Lou Dobbs Tonight” Thursday and dubbed him “a character.”
Following a segment on US Congress’ struggle to pass an immigration bill, and a segment on “bad imports” —including “tainted cough syrup from Communist China” — Dobbs profiled New Haven’s efforts to welcome undocumented immigrants. The show was another example of how, for its controversial municipal ID program and subsequent battle with federal immigration authorities, New Haven’s taking center stage in a national debate on immigration.
Over a backdrop of the tranquil fountains on the New Haven Green, Dobbs charged DeStefano with establishing “a sanctuary policy” for undocumented aliens “in violation of federal law.”
Click on the play arrow to watch the segment.
Dobbs also lobbed a new accusation, attributed to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). The mayor was charged with undermining federal authorities by “disclosing details of a planned operation before it even happened.”
After last week’s raid, rumors flew through the city that ICE agents would return for another raid on Tuesday. DeStefano held a press conference Monday calling raids “imminent” and requesting they be postponed pending investigation of civil rights complaints. In response, an ICE official told the Associated Press that the raids on New Haven would be suspended.
On Dobbs’ show Thursday, ICE was quoted blasting the mayor for ruining its plans.
“The mayor compromised a planned operation targeted at criminal fugitive aliens in his community,” read a statement across the CNN screen attributed to ICE. “That compromise threatened the safety of our agents and so the operation has been postponed.”
The mayor got five words in on Dobbs’ show: “Absolutely false,” came his retort. “That didn’t happen.”
Dobbs said ICE still plans to return to raid the city, just “at a later date.” He proceeded on to talk of other cities, then wrapped up the the topic by returning to mention DeStefano, calling him “a character.”