Thread: Darien man files complaint;calls city's hassle-free zone ill

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com

Darien man files complaint; calls city's 'hassle-free zone' illegal

By Natasha Lee
Staff Writer

December 9, 2005

STAMFORD -- A Darien man has filed a federal criminal complaint against the mayor and public safety director saying their authorization of "no-hassle" zones for day laborers encourages illegal immigration and violates federal immigration laws.

The complaint against Mayor Dannel Malloy and Bill Callion, director of public safety, health and welfare, was filed with the U.S. Attorney's office Tuesday by Paul Streitz, an advocate for restricting immigration.

The complaint also lists the name of five supporters from Watertown, Fairfield, Sandy Hook, Danbury and Greenwich. Tom Carson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office, said the office generally does not comment on complaints.

In the complaint, Streitz, director of Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control, says the designated labor pickup spots located on the city's East Side induce "illegal aliens to come into the United States and remain in the United States in violation" of federal criminal law. Violators of the federal law Streitz cites can face fines and prison terms.

The group, formed in April, aims to limit the number of illegal and legal immigrants. It has more than 250 members, Streitz said.

"This puts the mayor in an awkward position of explaining why he's violating the laws and to serve as a warning to any other public officials that we'll file complaints," he said. "The state and local officials see the immigration problem as something they can eliminate if they aid illegals with ID cards and with workplaces, like 'hassle-free' zones. . . . But all it's done is made the problem worse and induced more illegals to come to this country."

The zones, located near North State and Lafayette streets, and along South State Street, were created by the city four years ago to provide laborers with a safe waiting area away from traffic and to appease East Side business owners who complained the laborers were distracting customers. More than 100 laborers, usually illegal Latino immigrants, congregate their daily.

Mayor Malloy called Streitz's complaint a publicity stunt and said the "hassle-free" zones do not violate any laws.

"He's a fellow who's desperate for attention," Malloy said. "We're not encouraging anybody. There's nothing illegal about looking for day work. Is he suggesting that we should ignore that it was a danger and that businesses were being affected?"

Streitz said he also filed the complaint out of concern for the future of jobs for American citizens, which he believes are being taken by illegal immigrants who wait at "hassle-free" zones for landscapers and homeowners to offer them work. He denies that his effort is discriminatory, but said it seeks to raise awareness.

"Where low-income Americans had a livelihood, they don't have a livelihood anymore, and that has been destroyed by illegal immigrations," Streitz said.

Malloy said the zones were established out of concern for laborers and at the urging of business owners. He also said the zones have helped decrease disturbances and complaints in the neighborhood.

"It is well within our right to say we want to move that activity in request of the neighborhood and the merchants. We don't ask who's legal and who's not legal. That's not my job. My job is to protect people from being hit on the streets and to allow for the operation of businesses."

Callion declined to comment on the matter.

Streitz has only filed a complaint against Stamford city officials, but said he will target other cities with similar policies that encourage illegal immigration.

Time for Streitz to think about running for public office

A true patriot, that man is!

Mayor Malloy called Streitz's complaint a publicity stunt and said the "hassle-free" zones do not violate any laws.

If this is a publicity stunt....Mr Streitz has hit a home run! After all, the employers, and the illegals they hire at these "hassle free" zones, are surely not contributing to Mayor Malloy's taxpayer funded paycheck.

You GO Citizen Streitz!

There's nothing illegal about looking for day work.

Say what? An illegal alien looking for day work is not illegal? Go get this idiot Streitz