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ORDER OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS TO READ AND FILE THE COMMUNICATION TITLED “ORDER OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS CALLING FOR A WORKSHOP REGARDING EOUITABLE CIVIC, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN”.
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WHEREAS: It would be constructive to hold a workshop before the appropriate aldermanic committee to discuss access to city programs and services, barriers to civic participation, and the need for protections against exploitation experienced by immigrant residents of the Cit) of New Haven; and
WHEREAS: The New Haven Police Department issued General Order 06-02 providing, inter alia, that City police officers may not inquire about immigration status in 2006; and
WHEREAS: The Board of Alders voted to issue the nation's first municipal identification cards to all residents in 2007; and
WHEREAS: The Mayor of the City of New Haven issued "An Executive Order Concerning
Undocumented Immigrants" in 2019, stating no city employee can ask about a person's immigration status unless required by law, inter alia, and updated the aforementioned executive order to further
strengthen protections in 2020; and
WHEREAS: The City of New Haven defines itself as a "Sanctuary City" and held fast to this status even through threats of loss of federal funding from the Trump administration; and
WHEREAS: The City of New Haven has been home to an Ecuadorian Consulate since 2008 and established a temporary Mexican mobile consulate in 2022; and
WHEREAS: The 2020 census revealed that Hispanics are the City of New Haven's largest ethnic group, representing 30.6 percent of our population; and
WHEREAS: The Connecticut General Assembly expanded HUSKY Health Insurance eligibility for undocumented children 12 years and under and is taking up additional legislation to expand eligibility to age 26; and
WHEREAS: State Representative Juan Candelaria introduced legislation to enable undocumented residents to vote in municipal and state elections; and
WHEREAS: The Elm City ID Card remains available but is no longer linked to other city services or recognized by local establishments; and
WHEREAS: Significant numbers of New Haven residents are Spanish-dominant; and
WHEREAS: There is limited access to Spanish interpretation in public-facing City departments, no routine Spanish translation of public documents or Spanish interpretation at public meetings, and no Spanish language traffic and parking signage; and
WHEREAS: The decennial City of New Haven Charter Review provides an opportunity to address barriers to civic participation for non-electors that are currently enshrined therein; and
WHEREAS: Immigrant residents routinely face serious health-harming violations of labor and employment laws, as well as an increased risk of being victims of crimes like robbery; and
WHEREAS: It would be valuable to understand how addressing these challenges would advance the Board of Alders' legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of jobs, public health, and public safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED that the New Haven Board of Alders conduct a workshop regarding equitable civic, social, and economic opportunities for immigrant residents in the City of New Haven, and that any records regarding policy, planning, and implementation related to this topic be furnished to the appropriate committee prior to the workshop.
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED by the New Haven Board of Alders that the requested workshop being held the communication titled “ORDER OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS CALLING FOR A WORKSHOP REGARDING EOUITABLE CIVIC, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN” be and hereby is read, printed, and filed.