cross post from HatCityBLOG
In honor of Danbury being accepted into the ICE prorgam, lets look at some past quotes from the last honest man in the city.
Mayor Boughton, Hartford Courant 05.07.05
Lost in the hubbub is the political reality that having state police enforce immigration law in Connecticut is unlikely to happen anytime soon, if ever. And even Boughton acknowledges that his plan would have little effect on the number of undocumented immigrants in town.
[...]
Blumenthal responded to Boughton’s request by saying it would need the approval of Gov. M. Jodi Rell, Public Safety Commissioner Leonard Boyle and the state legislature.
Blumenthal said there is no chance of that happening this year and he has “serious reservations” about the proposal.
“Deputizing local or state police is not a long term or fundamental solution to the problem,” he said.Although Boughton wants state police to enforce immigration law, he is not interested in Danbury police having the same authority, for fear it would cripple their ability to investigate other crimes.
“The same is true, to an even greater extent, for the state police,” Blumenthal said.
Mayor Boughton, New York Times 05.25.05
It will begin at Kennedy Park, where the crowds of Hispanic men who gather before dawn to find work as day laborers helped prompt Mayor Mark D. Boughton to ask that the state police be deputized to enforce federal immigration laws.
[...]
Now, while members of Danbury’s Common Council continue to draft a ”repetitive outdoor activity” ordinance to restrict volleyball by cracking down on parking and noise, among other things, the mayor says deputizing the state police may not be necessary, that the police may have enough remedies without becoming immigration agents.
Mayor Boughton, Hartford Courant, April 26 2006.
Most local police departments say they have no interest in arresting illegal immigrants who have not committed crimes. Even in Danbury, when Mayor Mark Boughton last year tried unsuccessfully to have state police enforce immigration law, he said he didn’t want his police doing it because it could discourage immigrants from cooperating in criminal investigations.
Food for thought…kinda makes you wonder about his comments regarding the Danbury 11 case huh?
The partnership of the local police and ICE should be used only for those immigrants with a CRIMINAL backgroung, or with those who commit a crime.Immigrants who just drive to wok , pay taxes, do charity , and have a family here should be given the opportunity to continue living in this town that has become their home. Againg as an immigrant (US. citizen) i do agree with partnership as long as it is used for those who have committed a crime., or have not paid taxed for exmaple.
I congratulate Mayor B and the DPD on taking this step which will help reduce the number of criminals on Danbury’s streets. Who cares about statements made 4 years ago, the situation has worsened and Danbury is reacting to both the growing number of criminals on our streets as well as the opinion of the community.
Civility in our town, state, and country is based upon our laws and those who violate them have to be taught a lesson – we will not let this continue, and if it takes additional access to information about the criminal element by those who support our laws, so be it.
Danbury has horrible housing that only illegal immigration would..eek out a few dollars for/the attempt of these people too find work at the Kennedy Avenue location is in itself a farce/and shows a willingness to be puppets/..aside from the general ignorance that walks the Main Street area–there’s a smell and a filth there..looking to stop the illegal’s from working is a farce..looking at them have babies and mistreat them is a reality,,Danbury will spell out each and every day that profiteering is the reality,,and showing up wearing Law&Order badges seems to be part of passing the collection plate.
And you didn’t even mention his denial that Danbury police have already partnered with ICE in the infamous sting at Kennedy Park that led to a federal lawsuit Danbury is paying big bucks to defend. And that how later it came out that a Danbury cop was driving the van used in the sting. He will soon be testifying about that under oath.
He tells so many lies he can no longer keep them straight. Thanks for reminding us as he is “The last honest man in Danbury”
It’s campaign season. Of course he is trying to find a way to throw immigration into the limelight again. It is a topic that is emotionally driven. People get distracted when their emotions are toyed with. And make no mistake, that’s exactly what Boughton has done from day one.