Here are two press release items:

HARTFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT PROTOCOL
FOR ARREST/DETENTION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
—NEWS RELEASE— (March 7, 2008)— The City of Hartford Police Department has established clear and decisive
guidelines to enforce a policy already in place regarding the detention and arrest of undocumented persons and/or illegal immigrants. Mayor Eddie A. Perez and Chief Daryl K.Roberts recognize and value the diversity of the community and want to dispel any rumors as immigration issues make headlines.

It is the policy of the HPD to cooperate with other law enforcement agencies but also to ensure the safety and well being of all persons within its jurisdiction regardless of their immigration status. No person will be arrested or denied by the Hartford Police unless they are suspected of engaging in criminal activity. The Hartford Police will not arrest a person based solely on their immigration status unless there is a criminal warrant issued by federal authorities for that individual.

According to the guidelines that go into effect tomorrow, Friday, March 7th, the Department’s policy is to conform to federal laws and international treaties when detaining foreign nationals or undocumented persons/suspected illegal immigrants. However, the HPD does not determine someone’s legal status. The Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) has primary jurisdiction.

Federal authorities handle the civil cases, which make up the majority of immigration status questions. However, if someone is suspected of breaking the law, the Hartford Police Department is sworn to serve and protect and uphold the law. To be clear, a person’s immigration status, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, occupation, or other arbitrary aspects shall have no bearing on the officer’s
decision to arrest.

Chief Roberts says, “Our motto is ‘Service-Relationships-Safety’ and this department will uphold that. If ICE or some other federal agency makes a specific request concerning suspected or actual criminal activity, then the Hartford Police Department will provide available support services during these federal operations. We will hold or detain persons suspected of criminal activity, upon request. However, the HPD will not honor any request from ICE to hold or detain a person where a civil or administrative warrant is involved.”

Mayor Perez says, “The brave men and women of our Police Department work diligently everyday to build upon community relationships. I want to thank the Chief and his command staff for ensuring the safety of our neighborhoods and respecting diversity. Laws should be upheld and people should not be living in the shadow of fear.”

Contact: Sarah Barr, Director of Communications, City of Hartford, 860-522-4888, extension 6217 or
Nancy Mulroy, Public Information Officer, Hartford Police Department, 860-757-4021

and here is the City Council agenda for Monday March 10th:

AGENDA

MEETING OF THE COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL

MARCH 10, 2008

CONSENT CALENDAR:
ACTION TAKEN

COMMUNICATIONS

1. MAYOR PEREZ, with accompanying resolution de Authorization to apply for and receive

funds from the State for the operation of the Youth Services Bureau activities.

2. MAYOR PEREZ, with accompanying resolution de Authorization for Health and Human

Services to apply for and accept funds from State in support of the Dial-A-Ride Program.

3. MAYOR PEREZ, with accompanying resolution de Authorization for Health and Human

Services to apply for and accept funds from State in collaboration with Saint Francis

Hospital and Medical Center to implement the Women’s Healthy Heart Program.

4. MAYOR PEREZ, with accompanying resolution de Authorization to enter into a purchase

and sale agreement with Rego Realty Corporation for property located at 990 Wethersfield

Avenue.

HEARING DATE – Monday, March 17, 2008

5. MAYOR PEREZ, with accompanying resolution de Allocation of CDBG-Office of Inspector

General Repayment funds for costs associated with the new Parker Memorial Center/Kelvin

D. Anderson Gymnasium Project.

6. MAYOR PEREZ, with accompanying resolution de Authorization to apply for and receive

North Central Area Agency on Aging Title III funding and enter into contract with various

agencies to provide services to elderly residents.

7. MAYOR PEREZ, with accompanying resolution de Authorization to execute the Pension

Tentative Agreement between the City and the Hartford Educational Support Personnel,

Local 82.

8. MAYOR PEREZ, with accompanying resolution de Authorization to enter into a

Memorandum of Understanding to participate in a “Model Cities” Grant funded by the

National Recycling Coalition (NRC) and endorsed by Connecticut Resources Recovery

Authority (CRRA) for a pilot program to implement a collection method know as “single

Stream” recycling.

9. COUNCIL PRESIDENT TORRES de Rescheduling of the Committee of the whole Meeting.

10. EDUCATION COMMITTEE de Update and discussion on the 2008-2009 School Budget.

11. PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE de Presentation by

representatives from the Trust for Public Land regarding its report on the Hartford Park

System.

REPORTS

12. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, with accompanying resolution de

Allocation of funds from the Health and Human Services Department-Recreation Services

Contract Account and enter into contract with Starlings Volleyball Club.

13. PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, with accompanying

substitute resolution de Waiver of half the fees for 37th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

14. PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, with accompanying

resolution de Waiver of half the fees and closure of the right lanes of traffic on several

streets for a Good Friday Procession hosted by Our Lady of Sorrows Church.

15. PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, with accompanying

resolution de Establishment of a Soccer Task Force.

16. PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, with accompanying

resolution de Waiver of half the fees and use of Pavilion for a Reggae Jam Concert

sponsored by Rasta Lenny and Friends Productions at.

17. PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, with accompanying

resolution de Waiver of half the fees and street closures for a procession sponsored by

Brazilian Cultural Center of Hartford.

FOR ACTION

18. Resolution de Reappointment of Fannie S. Arnum to the Commission on Aging.

19. Resolution de Appointment of members to Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

RESOLUTIONS

20. (MAYOR PEREZ) Upper Albany Branch of the Hartford Public Library de Authorization
to apply for a grant from the State for the financing of the construction of.

21. (MAYOR PEREZ) 777 Main Street de Authorization to enter into and execute a lease

agreement with 777 Main Street LLC for use of the premises at.
HEARING DATE – Monday, March 17, 2008

22. (MAYOR PEREZ) Hartford Foundation for Public Giving de Acceptance grant funding to

support the development of the South End Senior Wellness Center from.

23. (MAYOR PEREZ) 250 Constitution Plaza de Authorization to enter into and execute a lease

agreement with Rebuilding Together Hartford, Inc. (RTH) for sublease of the premises at.
HEARING DATE – Monday, March 17, 2008

24. (COUNCIL PRESIDENT TORRES) Preservation of Historic Documents de Authorization

to apply for grant and enter into contracts with State for funds for.

25. (COUNCIL PRESIDENT TORRES, COUNCILPERSONS BOUCHER, DEUTSCH,
AIREY-WILSON, COTTO, KENNEDY AND RITTER) Predatory lending de Support for

investigating options and proposal of Legislation to ease burden of.

26. (COUNCILWOMAN AIREY-WILSON) End Hunger Connecticut de Partnering with

Charter Oak Cultural Center, Foodshare and Hands on Hartford for the Food Stamp Project

to raise awareness of the challenges facing low-income families living on a limited budget and

support of 2007 Farm Bill pending in Senate.

27. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) Allyn Street de Granting permission for street closure, to

serve food and alcohol and erect stage and tents for Pour House Summer Block Party Series

2008 sponsored by the Pour House at.

28. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) Elizabeth Park de Waiver of half the fees and permission to

vend merchandise and use the Pavilion for a festival and concert sponsored by Trinidad and

Tobago Civic Association, Inc. at.

29. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) Bushnell Park de Waiver of half the fees and permission to

use City equipment and Pavilion and sell food and beverages for 9th Annual Recovery Walk

Festival sponsored by Connecticut Community Addiction Recovery.

30. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) Bushnell Park de Waiver of half the fees for 11th Annual

Hartford Downtown Criterium sponsored by the Sport Group – Nord-Ost, LLC at.

31. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) Hartford Marathon Foundation de Waiver of half the fees,

street closure and permission to vend food and beverages for 4th O’Hartford 5K Run

sponsored by.

32. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) Bushnell Park de Waiver of half the fees for Healing Field of

Honor for Hometown Heroes sponsored by the American Legion Department and the
American Auxiliary Department of Connecticut at.

33. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) Riverfront Plaza de Waiver of half the fees for Red Nose

Run sponsored by the Hartford Marathon Foundation, Inc. at.

34. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) Keney Park Pond House de Permission to serve food and

liquor for private birthday party hosted by Christina Latimer at.

35. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) St. Anne-Immaculate Conception Church de Waiver of half

the fees and street closures for Good Friday Procession sponsored by.

36. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) Allyn Street de Granting permission for street closure, to

serve food and alcohol, and erect a stage and tent for Agave Summer Block Party Series

2008 sponsored by the Agave Cantina & Grill at.

37. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) Keney Park de Waiver of half the fees and permission to

vend food, beverages, merchandise and use of tent for 23rd Annual Keney Park Family Day

sponsored by Family Day Enterprise.

38. (COUNCILPERSON COTTO) Goodwin Park de Waiver of half the fees associated with

Annual Phagwah (New Year) Parade sponsored by Shri Krishna Mandir, Inc. at.


39. (COUNCILPERSONS COTTO AND DEUTSCH) Iraq de Support to end war and

for the troops currently serving in.

40. (COUNCILMAN KENNEDY) North Hartford Economic Development Task Force de

Establishment of.

41. (COUNCILPERSONS RITTER AND WINCH) Rago-Coco Baseball League de

Allocation of funds from the Council Sundry Account to purchase uniforms and equipment

for.