Fearing more raids would be “imminent,” Mayor John DeStefano called on the federal Department of Homeland Security to “back off” until it investigates charges that citizens’ constitutional rights were violated when immigration agents swept through Fair Haven last week.
A federal spokeswoman responded the office would comply with any investigation that may take place, but would not suspend its enforcement of federal law at the mayor’s request.
After arresting at 32 allegedly illegal immigrants from Fair Haven last Wednesday, agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office — part of Homeland Security— returned to the area Monday, arresting three individuals in North Haven, according to ICE. In anticipation of possible future raids, the mayor called for an internal investigation to be done by the Office of Professional Conduct and the Inspector General.
“We won’t stand for the violation of constitutional rights and racial profiling in New Haven,” said DeStefano in a statement at a press conference Monday afternoon.
Members of the community group JUNTA for Progressive Action and other volunteers interviewed families and others present at last Wednesday’s raids, including legal residents and children. Based on the notarized testimony, DeStefano concluded ICE agents violated their own protocol in several ways: entering and searching homes without warrants, failing to identify themselves as ICE agents, and conducting racial profiling.
The mayor requested that DHS “back off on this until you have had time to investigate the affidavits.”
Click here to read DeStefano’s criticisms of the raids as well as excerpts of the testimony.
The Testimony
“[My mother] answered the door thinking it was NHPD,” reads one affidavit from a 14-year-old son and U.S. citizen present at one of the raids. “She asked who they were looking for and the officer said, ‘A person from Guatemala’ and then forced themselves into the apartment.”
“They did not identify themselves nor did they show any badges or paperwork of any kind,” reads another statement by a New Haven resident.
Another person was present at a restaurant when ICE agents burst in. She stated the Latinos in the room were asked for ID, but not she and her son, who are white.
“In all instances, the city has established that officers intimidated witnesses, restrained individuals they knew were not subject to arrest (including US citizens and children), and caused significant distress and duress,” the mayor’s statement reads. Such actions were “intended to compel individuals to incriminate themselves and turn over identification,” charged DeStefano.
The city further maintains that children, who are legal citizens, were “traumatized” by officers’ misconduct. In the wake of the raids, JUNTA has been reaching out to affected families, offering food and mental health referrals. Three of the 32 arrestees have posted bond, according to Michael Wishnie of the Yale Law School, which has offered to defend all detainees.
DeStefano said he made a request Friday to DHS to suspend raids, but that request was denied.
The Feds’ Response
ICE spokeswoman Paula Grenier rejected the city’s charges, maintaining that in each of the raids Wednesday, “We did get consent to access the homes.” She declined to speak to whether the agents announced their warrants to those inside the homes, but said,
“We did have warrants for every fugitive alien that we were trying to apprehend.”
While different numbers have been floating around, Grenier said 29 individuals were arrested in New Haven on Wednesday, five on fugitive warrants and 24 for other immigration violations.The larger, 32, number comes from City Hall and advocates.
Did officers identify themselves before entering? Grenier wouldn’t comment specifically, saying only that ICE agents wear labeled clothing indicating their position. Grenier declined to comment further on specific allegations, but maintained “our officers conduct operations in a professional manner.”
Grenier said ICE would cooperate in any investigation that might occur, but she said the agency would not suspend its raids: “ICE is mandated by Congress to enforce a wide range of federal immigration and custom laws, and we will continue to enforce these laws in New Haven and in other communities throughout the country.”