Barletta, Conn. mayor to speak at immigration forum in W-B
Published: October 9, 2009


Mayors Lou Barletta of Hazleton and John DeStefano Jr. of New Haven, Conn., will discuss their cities' different strategies on immigration at a free public forum Oct. 22 in Wilkes-Barre."Forum on Immigration: Differing Approaches by Two Similar Cities" will begin at 7 p.m. in the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center of King's College.

Barletta and DeStefano each will speak for approximately 20 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer session with audience members. DeStefano will appear by live telecast from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven.

Barletta argues that illegal immigrants have increased crime in his working-class city of 30,000. He introduced and city council approved the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, which would penalize landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and businesses that hire them.

The act was declared unconstitutional by U.S. District Court Judge James Munley in July 2007 and is currently under appeal.

DeStefano began his eighth term as New Haven's mayor in 2008. In a city of 125,000, he is credited for embracing illegal immigrants as an important part of the town's economic and social structure.

In 2007, he launched a program to provide illegal immigrants with ID cards that provide access to city services and enable them to open bank accounts.

The Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center is located between North Franklin and North Main streets.

The forum is locally sponsored by the McGowan Hispanic Outreach Program at King's and the college's Political Science Department, and is being held in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month.

Parking will be available at on-campus lots.

For information on the event, contact Brother George Schmitz, McGowan Hispanic Outreach Program, at 208-8021 or e-mail georgeschmitz@kings.edu.

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