Democrat Jim Himes has become the first Peruvian-American citizen in winning a seat in the U.S. Congress for Connecticut's 4th District during the recent elections.
Himes, a 42-year-old former Wall Street banker, secured 149,979 votes (51 percent) to defeat his opponent Republican Christopher Shays, who had 136,630 votes (48 percent).
In an interview with Peru's RPP radio news, Himes thanked the Latino community living in Connecticut, especially the Peruvians, Ecuadorians, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans for having voted for him.
"They are proud of giving me their support, because they know that I am a Congress representative who understands well the Latino community," Himes said.
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Jim was raised with a deep appreciation for American values. Born in Lima, Peru in 1966 to American parents, Jim spent his first 10 years of his childhood in Peru and Colombia while his father worked for the nonprofit Ford Foundation and for UNICEF.
As an American abroad, Jim grew up fluent in both Spanish and English and was raised with an awareness of the unique position of the United States in the world - a leader in civil liberties, democratic self-government, and the rule of law, and a beacon of hope and economic opportunity for others around the world.
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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.
As a footnote to his win over Chris Shays, Congressman-Elect Jim Himes becomes the first Peruvian-American to win a seat for U.S. Congress.
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.
