Danbury council approves plan allowing police to partner with INS
February 6, 2008


DANBURY, Conn. (AP) _ Despite the protests of hundreds of people outside City Hall, the Danbury Common Council overwhelmingly approved a plan Wednesday that will allow some police officers to enforce immigration law.

The move, which passed 19-2, now gives Police Chief Al Baker authorization to enter into a training agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The authorization would give some officers the power to enforce immigration law

Backers, including Mayor Mark Boughton, say the training is needed because of the federal government's lack of action on immigration reform. The city is home to a large number of undocumented workers.

Opponents worry the training will result in racial profiling and will lead to a fear of police among immigrants, both legal and illegal.

Protesters outside carried signs and chanted `Stop 287' a reference to Section 287 of the federal immigration law that allows local police to form partnership with federal immigration officers. And some city businesses, including Hispanic-owned restaurants, closed Wednesday in protest.

The large crowd had dispersed by the time the nearly three-hour council meeting adjourned.

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