'May Be [Immigrants'] New Bible': New Haven, Conn., Releases a How-To Guide for Surviving the Trump Era

Mayor Toni Harp said they came mostly from immigrant residents. It wasn't hard to pinpoint their worries: Trump had vowed to deport undocumented immigrants and build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Months later, Trump has mostly kept his word on enforcing immigration law, shedding Obama-era deferment policies that once focused on undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Now, undocumented immigrants who have no criminal history are being monitored and deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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By Esteban L. Hernandez

The worried calls started a day after President Trump's election.

Mayor Toni Harp said they came mostly from immigrant residents. It wasn't hard to pinpoint their worries: Trump had vowed to deport undocumented immigrants and build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Months later, Trump has mostly kept his word on enforcing immigration law, shedding Obama-era deferment policies that once focused on undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Now, undocumented immigrants who have no criminal history are being monitored and deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"These are challenging times for many people living in this nation," Harp said. "Beyond that disruption factor, there is fear and a sense of upheaval -- no one should have to live that way, especially of a result of an arbitrary decision by the federal government."

The concerns led the city to partner with other local organizations to create a family emergency preparedness guide for undocumented immigrant families in the city. Concerns were heightened last week after Norwalk resident and mother of four U.S. citizen children Nury Chavarria took sanctuary at a New Haven church. ICE labeled Chavarria a fugitive, but did not specify whether it would enforce her removal order. Chavarria remained at the church Tuesday.

"In my mind, it speaks loudly about the harsh climate of which we now find ourselves," Harp said.

The pocket-sized booklet on emergency preparedness for undocumented immigrants is the latest example of New Haven's prominent status as a so-called sanctuary city, an informal term for cities where local law enforcement limits cooperation with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws and where local officials are vocal supporters of undocumented immigrant communities.

In 2007, New Haven made national headlines as the first city to offer municipal identification cards to all residents, regardless of immigration status. Immigrants and supporters flooded into City Hall to get the IDs. The ID was intended to allow undocumented immigrants to access city services, such as parks,

Harp said the immigration guide's first draft was created in March and was developed with help from various local stakeholders, including police and immigrant rights activists. Harp thanked City Community Services Administrator Martha Okafor for leading the project. City spokesman Laurence Grotheer said the total cost of design and printing of the booklets was $5,591.80 and paid for by the city. At least 5,000 booklets have been published.

Department of Children and Families Commissioner Joette Katz said 22,000 children who were born to undocumented parents live in Connecticut and are in the state legally.

"I am currently the custodian, or parent, to 4,300 children. Can you imagine if that number turned into 26,000?" Katz said, referring to children in DCF custody and the possibility that children of undocumented immigrants could be left in state care.

The guide the city printed includes legal and practical tips for families in the event of deportation orders, Harp said. It includes pages for children's personal information, how parents can appoint temporary guardians, contact information for various state and private agencies, and how-to guides for interacting with ICE. The guides will be available at City Hall and other locations in the city. Harp said the city is working on a Spanish version of the guide.

"It's a little book but there's a lot of information," Harp said.

Katz said the state has similar suggestions in a family preparedness toolkit on immigration enforcement introduced by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in March.

Katz said New Haven's guide will be available at schools and hospitals.

"They can actually read and pay attention to what may be their new bible, unfortunately," Katz said.

Fears over deportation can affect children, keeping students out of school, Harp said. New Haven Board of Education Chief Operating Officer William Clark said under federal and state law the district is obligated to educate children living in the city regardless of their national origin.

"It's very important for us to protect these children and protect the educational institutions, the schools, as safe places and areas where they can learn and be children," Clark said.

Harp said she does not want to a community living in fear.

"We are a state that values all of our residents, no matter where they come from," Harp said.

(c)2017 the New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.)

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Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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