Thread: Violence sparks rally against ID card

Violence sparks rally against ID card
Martine Powers
Staff Reporter
Published Thursday, April 2, 2009

In response to the arraignment of an alleged rapist, two anti-illegal-immigration activists held a press conference Monday night to air their grievances against Mayor John DeStefano Jr. and the Elm City ID Card.

Bill Farrel of the Southern Connecticut Immigration Reform and Veronica Kivela of the Community Watchdog Project met news outlets outside of Temple Grill to rally against Jose Angel Moreno-Hernandez, a 26-year-old employee at the Temple Street restaurant who was arraigned Monday for allegedly raping and beating a 25-year-old female co-worker in East Rock Park early Friday.

Hamden police reported earlier in the week that Moreno-Hernandez tried to snap the woman’s neck before raping her and driving off.

Farrel and Kivela claimed that the Elm City ID program is responsible for attracting undocumented immigrants to New Haven, asserting that the influx of undocumented immigrants has caused an increase in violent crime. It has not yet been determined whether Moreno-Hernandez is an undocumented immigrant.

DeStefano responded swiftly to the accusations in City Hall Monday night, asserting that the Elm City ID program does not contribute to violent crime, saying that the program does not excuse undocumented immigrants from answering for their crimes. There is no evidence, he said, that links one’s genetic or racial identity to criminal behavior.

City Hall spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga reiterated DeStefano’s response Wednesday: “They’re trying to misconstrue what the Elm City ID is about.â€

A two-day registration drive for the Elm City ID targeted at Yale students ended Wednesday in Dwight Hall. In all, 22 Yale students registered for the card.

Notice how they imply that illegal aleins are going to Yale?
Could be anyone saying they don't have ID or even student visa holders.

Dixie

Recruiting Yales students is an attempt to legitimate the New Haven ID card