Hartford to go for sanctuary city status

Aug. 5: Welcome to LGF readers. Let me know how you’re finding this article will ya? Update: Thanks for the link smokefire.

Not to be outdone by New Haven, a sanctuary city that will issue a city ID no-questions-asked, Hartford, Connecticut is considering an ordinance that will prevent the Hartford Police Department’s law enforcement officers from arresting or detaining illegal aliens that have administrative (non-criminal) warrants.

Yes, read that again. Even if ICE has tagged these criminals for deportation, this ordinance prevents police officers in Hartford from holding them and contacting the Feds for a pick-up. As far as the Hartford City Council is concerned, it’s a federal problem and they don’t want to have anything to do with it.

So much for inter-agency cooperation.

I’m hoping that we can get some national attention to fight the ordinance. (Hint, Hint)

It looks like Hartford wants to join the ranks of cities that won’t touch the illegal alien problem. Sanctuary cities – including Washington, D.C.; New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; San Francisco; Santa Ana; San Diego; Salt Lake City; Phoenix; Dallas; Houston; Austin; Detroit; Jersey City; Minneapolis; Miami; Denver; Baltimore; Seattle; Portland, Oregon; New Haven, Connecticut; and Portland, Maine – have ordinances that prevent city employees from inquiring about the immigration status of just about anyone they speak with.

The four page proposal, provided by the Hartford Courant, spells out the proposal; subject to change prior to being submitted to the full council next month.

City Council member Luis Cotto argues that because illegal aliens are worried about being deported – no kidding – that they are reluctant to speak with law enforcement.

I question what the next step will be. Will federal officials guaranty illegal aliens will not be deported if they are simply a witness of a federal crime? If Cotto’s argument works for Hartford, why not for state or federal crimes?

If they were law-abiding citizens, they would not have to worry about that would they?

Granted, the ordinance specifies administrative warrants issued by ICE, but it does not mention criminal warrants. More importantly, the proposal ensures that city employees encourage everyone – including illegal aliens – from signing up for services.

Here’s the ordinance that I have transcribed from the original PDF linked above. My emphasis added in red.

Sec. 2-925. Purpose.
The purpose of this ordinance is to codify the policies of the City of Hartford regarding its residents and usage of City services as it relates to their immigration status.

Sec. 2-926. Definitions.
Administrative warrant means a non-criminal, civil warrant, that is created by an administrative agency of the United States pursuant to Title 5 Part I Chapter 5 Subchapter II § 551 of the U.S. Code.

Criminal Activity means participation in an activity that violates federal or state criminal law, or Hartford municipal code.

Immigration status means a person’s classification as determined by the sections of the United States Code covered by the Immigration and Nationality Act (Public Law No. 82-414) and its amendments.

National Crime Information Center means the computerized index of criminal justice information maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States Department of Justice.

Resident means any person whose primary place of habitation falls within the geographic boundaries of the City of Hartford, as defined by Chapter 1 § 2 of Charter of the City of Hartford.

United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) refers to said branch of the Department of Homeland Security as defined in Title 6 Chapter 1 Subchapter XII Part A § 542 of the U.S. Code.

Sec. 2-927. Usage of City Services – Generally
(a) Any service provided by a City of Hartford department shall be made available to residents, regardless of immigration status, unless such agency is required by Federal law to deny eligibility for such service to residents because of their immigration status.

(b) Every City of Hartford department shall encourage residents, regardless of immigration status, to make use of all City services provided by City departments for which residents are not denied eligibility by Federal law as it relates to their immigration status.

(c) Referrals to medical or social service agencies will be made in the same manner for all residents, without regard to immigration status.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any employee of the City of Hartford from cooperating with federal immigration authorities as required by law.

Sec. 2-928. Usage of City Services – Police matters specifically
(a) Hartford police officers shall not inquire about a person’s immigration status unless such an inquiry is necessary to an investigation involving criminal activity as defined in Section 2-926 above.

(b) Hartford police shall not inquire about the immigration status of crime victims, witnesses, or others who call, approach or are interviewed the Hartford Police Department.

(c) No person shall be detained 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. There is no general obligation for a police officer to contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding any person, unless that person is arrested on a criminal charge.

(d) Hartford police officers shall not make arrests or detain individuals based on administrative warrants for removal entered by ICE into the National Crime Information Center database, including administrative immigration warrants for persons with outstanding removal, deportation or exclusion orders. Enforcement of the civil provisions of United States immigration law is the responsibility of Federal immigration officials.

(e) The Hartford Police Department shall conduct necessary training and education to ensure that its officers are knowledgeable about provisions set forth in this policy.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any Hartford police officer from cooperating with federal immigration authorities as required by law.

Sec. 2-929. Privacy.
No employee of the City of Hartford shall inquire about or disclose information regarding a resident’s immigration status or other personal or private attributes except when either required by law or when this information is necessary to the provision of the City service in question.

What do Hartford residents think of this policy? How do you feel about your tax dollars being spent for services to illegal aliens that flow under the radar, using your identification to get jobs, buy cars (no insurance required) and basically steal city services.

To be clear, I am 100 percent in favor of legal immigration. I welcome legal immigrants and want them to be immersed in our culture and become an American.

Borders. Language. Culture. If Hartford inacts this ordinance, the city – along with all other sanctuary cities – should have all federal funding cut off.

What can you do?

Be polite, but contact the Hartford City Council to express your view. Let them know that you prefer that the HPD enforce all current laws. By enforcing all laws, the city will become a better, safer, place.

Court of Common Council
550 Main Street
Room 208
Hartford, CT 06103 Main Office
(860) 543-8510
Fax (860) 722-6591

Although I can not locate an e-mail address for Luis Cotto, you can contact Calixto Torres, the Council president – [email protected]. Be nice.