[Youth-list] NH Register on ID's and Immigration

[JMRab at aol.com]

     (http://www.nhregister.com/site/News.cfm?brd=1281)       06/16/2007  
City  seeks to set record straight on illegal immigration   Mary  E. O’Leary , 
Register Topics Editor 
NEW HAVEN — A restaurant owner in  Hamden was adamant that it was true. 
He said he had just  gotten the heads up that four restaurants on State 
Street in New  Haven had been raided by federal immigration officials and a popular 
 upscale eatery downtown had been shut down.

None of it was  true, although in all the confusion, and with many workers 
staying  home Tuesday, rumors were especially heavy that day.

"They  were unfounded rumors that spread pretty quickly. It’s the fear of  
the unknown," said Suzette Franco-Camacho, owner of Bespoke and  Roomba.

Raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on  June 6 resulted in the 
arrest of one illegal immigrant in West  Haven, 30 in New Haven, and then 
three more in North Haven  Monday.

Five were the result of previous deportation orders,  but the rest were 
collateral arrests. The general feeling in New  Haven was that they were in 
retaliation for the city’s ID program  that is open to all residents, but ICE said 
the raids were in the  planning for a few weeks.

To hear the concerns of businesses  and to set the record straight, Mayor 
John DeStefano Jr. Friday,  with the help of the Town Green Special Services 
District, met with  business representatives.

Michael Wishnie, a Yale Law  professor who is leading a team of lawyers 
representing the illegal  immigrants and advised the city on its municipal ID 
program, spoke  with the representatives of the businesses about their  rights.

Wishnie said employers are expected to fill out an  "I-9" job eligibility 
form for all workers that document they are  here legally. They have to show a 
good faith effort to comply with  procedures, but if a worker’s document turns 
out to be fake, the  employer is not liable.

Wishnie advised business owners that  if agents show up looking at I-9s, a 
payroll and other documents,  the agents should have a search warrant and the 
owners should tell  them they want to consult their attorneys.

Scott Healy,  executive director of the downtown special district, said the 
city  made it clear it expects people to comply with the immigration  laws.

He said the city urged the businesspeople to take the  lead in getting 
residents to sign up for the ID card, which has a  debit component to be used at 
downtown businesses, and to  participate in the federal debate on reform of the 
immigration  system.

Also Friday, one of those arrested had his $15,000  bail, which was set by 
ICE, reduced to $3,000. This is the second  judge that has agreed to lower a 
cash bail. Fifteen men will be back  in court Wednesday arguing for reductions.

 
____________________________________
Mary E. O’Leary can be reached at 789-5731 or _moleary at nhregister.com_ 
(mailto: moleary at nhregister.com) .   

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