ICE clears hurdle
By EUGENE DRISCOLL | STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 01/14/2008 10:42:15 PM EST

DANBURY - A Common Council committee of the whole voted 19-2 Monday to recommend Police Chief Al Baker be given the authorization to enter into an agreement that would have some officers receive training from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
However, since this was a committee meeting, the issue has to come back to the Common Council for an official endorsement. Essentially, the council voted Monday to make a positive recommendation to themselves.

Democrats Duane Perkins and Paul Rotello voted against the motion, saying they wanted to see a specific agreement between the police department and ICE before casting votes.

Formal authorization for the ICE ACCESS program could happen at the Common Council's regularly scheduled February meeting, or members could schedule a special meeting sometime this month.

Since October, the Council has been considering whether a few Danbury officers - most likely detectives - should be trained in an ICE program that would give them the same enforcement powers as ICE agents.

Proponents said the training is needed because of the federal government's lack of action on immigration reform.

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

Monday's vote came after about 150 minutes of detailed questioning from Common Council members to Baker, Corporation Counsel Laszlo Pinter, Mayor Mark Boughton and John Marley, an attorney with ICE.

Responding to questions from Common Council members, Det. Capt. Mitchell Weston, the head of the police department's investigative division, said the ICE training would not result in unchecked police powers.

"We're still guided by Connecticut law and federal law, but primarily Connecticut law," Weston said.

He said any Danbury-trained ICE officer will still have to answer to judges or, possibly the U.S. Attorney.

"There's no way a raid on house could be afforded without a search warrant," Weston said, acknowledging some situations, such as a hostage situation, already allow police to enter homes without warrants.

Baker repeatedly said the ICE training will allow Danbury police to better investigate crimes with an illegal immigrant angle, such as human trafficking and document fraud.

Twelve of 21 members of the Common Council posed questions, with others commenting when it was time to vote.

Council member Gregg Seabury made the motion that the committee make a positive recommendation on ICE ACCESS.

Council member Perkins tried to attach an amendment that would have required the agreement between the police department and ICE to be brought to the Common Council for review.

"It wouldn't hurt this Council if we do take a look at this," Council member Benjamin Chianese said. "Otherwise, it looks like we're signing a blank check."

However, Council member Colleen Stanley took exception to Perkins' idea, saying, "I don't think it's necessary to micromanage the chief of police."

Acknowledging the divisiveness the illegal immigration issue has caused Danbury, Council member Robert Riley recommended the city create a task force of city leaders and community members to try to heal wounds caused by the debate.

A similar body was created after Danbury experienced race riots in 1967, Riley said.

"We were thrust into this by the federal government dropping the ball (on immigration reform)," Riley said. "And they're not going to pick it up."
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