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New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, Police Chief Karl Jacobson and more than a dozen town officials attended a press conference at the Atwater Senior Center in the Fair Haven section of the city yesterday, another in a series of meetings about "protecting" immigrants -- legal and illegal -- from the incoming Trump Administration.
Representatives from Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro's office were in attendance, too.
It's worth reminding that DeLauro just voted AGAINST the "Preventing Violence Against Women By Illegal Aliens Act" earlier this week.
As in other meetings, Elicker reminded folks that New Haven is a sanctuary city, or as he calls it a "welcoming city" for everyone, "no matter what your document status is."
"New Haven has been a welcoming city for decades, and decades, and decades," Elicker boasted, at times speaking in Spanish to the crowd. "We are a city of immigrants."
"We are here today to make it abundantly clear that when we confront challenges, we do it together ... and we all stand united today," he said.
During the meeting, Elicker announced that the city had developed a guide to help new residents, including illegal immigrants, so they can better navigate their arrival in New Haven.
Print copies of the "Resource Guide for New Residents" are available in English and Spanish.
The digital versions can be found on the city website at newhavenct.gov/welcome.
The Resource Guide starts off with a welcome letter from Elicker.
"Our city’s immigrants play an important role in this collective goal of building a city where all can thrive. Immigrants – documented and undocumented – pay over $400 million in taxes in Connecticut, contributing to our city and state’s economic vitality and growth, while not having access to many public programs that they help fund. They are our children’s classmates, our neighbors, shop owners, caregivers, and essential workers. They are our community."
Then it moves onto a "know your rights" primer with links to organizations that can help educate immigrants on rights, including Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS), Informed Immigrant, Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), National Immigration Law Center (NILC), and interestingly the teachers union, American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Readers are assured that the role of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families is "not to report clients who are undocumented immigrants to the Department of Homeland Security or ICE."
They are reminded that HUSKY, the State of Connecticut’s Medicaid program for children and adults, now extends coverage to "undocumented children 15 and under."
And don't forget about college money!
In fact, illegals pursuing higher education in Connecticut can simply complete the Aid Application for CT Undocumented Students (AACTUS) to be considered for institutional financial aid for state schools.
If state aid doesn't pan out, illegals can always try for a scholarship from CT Students For A Dream or ARTE.
Readers are directed to find additional education resources at "My Undocumented Life" which maintains a long list of ideas for illegals and their families and allies.
Oh yeah, don't forget about the state's special drive-only license program just for illegals.
How thoughtful of Mayor Elicker to put together a guide that “encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law.”
Maybe America First Legal ought to send Elicker a copy of that letter previously sent to Lamont?
The letter warned that Connecticut's sanctuary policies were a violation of federal immigration law.
