Cities like New Haven, Conn., are making the right choice when it comes to immigration

[marmar]

from TomPaine.com:


Conflict or Community?
Alan Jenkins
July 31, 2007


Alan Jenkins is Executive Director of The Opportunity Agenda, a communications, research, and advocacy organization with the mission of building the national will to expand opportunity.


With the failure of Congress and the president to pass immigration reform this year, states, cities and towns around the country are moving forward with their own policies to address the issue. Some, like the city of New Haven, Conn., and the state of Illinois are attempting to integrate immigrants—including undocumented immigrants—into their communities in the absence of federal solutions. Others, like Hazelton, Pa., and Prince William County, Va., are adopting policies that punish undocumented immigrants and, with them, many citizens, families, small businesses and whole communities.

The better course, by far, is integrating new immigrants in ways that move everyone in the community forward.

On July 26, a federal court struck down anti-immigrant ordinances in Hazelton as unconstitutional. The voided provisions would, among other things, have required tenants to register with City Hall and fined landlords who rent to people without verifying their immigration status. The federal district court held that the ordinances would have violated due process and are preempted by federal immigration laws.

Prince William County recently passed a similar ordinance that would bar undocumented immigrants from public facilities and services like clinics, libraries and schools, and have police inquire about the immigration status of people whom they stop. The American Civil Liberties Union reports that 40 similar ordinances have passed in cities and towns around the country.

Contrast this with the city of New Haven, which has moved to integrate immigrants while improving the quality of life of all of its residents. The city has adopted a municipal ID card that is available to all residents, irrespective of their immigration status. The card allows the holder to open a bank account, access municipal parks, libraries and other services. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/07/31/conflict_or_community.php

[CTyankee]

1. Lines are long down at City Hall in New Haven

and they start about 4 in the morning. However, there is no time limit set on getting the card.

My husband, a city employee at City Hall, already has his (his dept., community services, is responsible for this effort). As soon as I recuperate fully from my recent surgery, I will get mine. Neither of us is an immigrant. Of course, our forbears were immigrants but that was in the 19th and early 20th century and neither of us has any idea what their "status" was when they got here from Germany and England!

We have had visitations of the re-emerging John Birch Society here with their anti-immigrant blatherings with bullhorns in front of City Hall. However, now that the local news cameras are absent, so are they.

They are learning English. As a former LIteracy Volunteers staff member I worked with tutors in many English classes, small and large, we provided in New Haven. Most students were hardworking and determined, but some fell back with family and immediate neighbors who spoke their language and didn't come back to class.
It was too bad, really.