To the editor:
After listening to Conanicut Sanctuary’s presentation at the public hearing Dec. 13, the group either: 1) does not understand the proposed ordinance; or 2) is willfully ignoring the substance by making emotionally charged pleas to the town council and citizens of Jamestown in response to the current federal administration’s immigration stance.
If the former, it is certainly understandable, as the ordinance is a dense six-page document drafted by lawyers and difficult to comprehend unless one has a grasp of federal immigration law.
If the latter, its arguments are better suited for a school civics debate or for our federal representatives in Washington. I question whether the approximately 500 voters knew what they were signing when they were handed the petition.
Conanicut Sanctuary failed to articulate any reasons why this is a local problem to be corrected by a Jamestown ordinance. By contrast, Police Chief Ed Mello made a detailed presentation with his concerns. Town Solicitor Peter Ruggiero also has opined that the ordinance conflicts with federal law and exposes the town to liability. There already is well-established federal jurisprudence regarding due process for citizens and illegal immigrants. Moreover, there are remedies through the courts for due process violations.
As a taxpayer, I am most concerned with the enforcement provision. This gives an aggrieved individual (legal or illegal) or “an organization that is chartered for the purpose of combating discrimination, promoting the rights of immigrants, or safeguarding civil rights” the right to sue for any violation of the ordinance and obtain damages and attorney’s fees. Such an organization could be the ACLU or even Conanicut Sanctuary itself. Why should we choose to expose ourselves to significant liability from watchdog groups ready to pounce at any violation?
This ordinance also obligates the school district to establish policies and procedures within a limited time period for dealing with immigration officials, forces the taxpayers to pay for translation services for individuals with limited English proficiency and burdens our police department with needless reporting standards.
In April, I urge Jamestown to vote against this proposed ordinance.
Michael Montoya
Lawn Avenue