The Wilton League of Women Voters and the Wilton Library are once again combining forces to offer a program on a “hot issue.” The topic this time is Immigration. On Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m., in the Brubeck Room of the Wilton Library. Two outspoken advocates for immigration reform, Michael Boyle and Mark Boughton, will debate this important issue.
Michael Boyle is an immigration attorney from North Haven and Danbury. He is president of the Connecticut Immigration Attorneys Association and speaks frequently on the legal problems faced by immigrants. His private practice deals with green cards, citizenship, human rights, deportation defense and other immigration issues, some in high-profile cases.
Mark Boughton is the mayor of Danbury, with first-hand experience with an expanding immigrant population. He argues for stronger federal enforcement of immigration law and deputization of state police officers as immigration officers. Illegal immigrants, he says, have strained Danbury’s housing and overloaded city services: fire, police, hospital.
Suddenly, without "explaination," Mayor Boughton bows out of the forum at the last minute.
It is likely that a large number of people will attend, as this event has attracted wide attention outside Wilton. Those who have pre-registered will be guaranteed space in the Brubeck Room of the Library, provided they arrive by 7:30 PM. Once the Brubeck Room is filled to its permitted capacity, additional audience members will be seated in the Library gallery where they will be able to hear the discussion.
There will be one speaker, Michael Boyle, an immigration attorney with offices in North Haven and Danbury. Mr. Boyle will talk about the legal issues involved in immigration and share his experiences and insights in this field. Following his presentation, the public will have an opportunity to ask questions or to express an opinion. Mayor Mark Boughton, a previously announced participant, has withdrawn.
I guess due to the wide spread interest regarding this forum, the mayor thought twice about attending the event (given his past statements when he debated immigration lawyer Boyle, him dropping out of the forum was probably a VERY smart move since there is a possible lawsuit heading in city of Danbury's direction.
Since the lawyers representing the Danbury 11 filed an FOI request, the mayor has been very hesitiant on speaking about immigration even going as far as refusing to talk about the issue with the Danbury News-Times as well as members of the local anti-immigrantion group that met with the mayor recently. At HatCityBLOG, you don't have to go far to read, see, and hear Boughton's words regarding immigration on the record from past forums including a certain event recently where the mayor made some rather "puzzling" comments regarding solving the immigration problem.
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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
