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Mayors debate illegal immigration

Barletta, mayor of New Haven put forth their opposing viewpoints at King’s forum.

By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

WILKES-BARRE – Two mayors with opposite views on how to handle illegal immigrants in their cities presented those views and then answered questions at a public forum Thursday night at King’s College.

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Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta talks about illegal immigration at a King’s forum. New Haven, Conn., Mayor John DeStefano is seen on screen.

Aimee Dilger/The Times Leader

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Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta and New Haven, Conn., Mayor John DeStefano were speakers.

Speaking through a video-conference from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, DeStefano said his job is “to make New Haven a safe and civil place.” He said about 15,000 of his city’s 130,000 residents are illegal immigrants and are important to the local economy.

After concluding that the federal government would not soon solve problems associated with illegal immigration, DeStefano initiated a program in July 2007 in which the city began issuing ID cards to city residents, including illegal immigrants, allowing them to gain access to city services and bank accounts. Opponents considered the cards an enticement for illegal immigrants to move there.

He said New Haven is “not trying to be a sanctuary city. … We’re trying to make decisions that are good for us.”

Barletta said he and DeStefano share common ground in agreeing that “the federal government has failed us” on immigration.

He described problems he associated with illegal immigrants that he’s seen since taking office in 2000, including overtaxed schools and hospitals, code violations, crime and a stagnating tax base despite a 50-percent population increase.

Barletta said violent crime in Hazleton increased 30 percent between 2003 and 2007 when he introduced, and council passed, the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, which would have punished employers and landlords who employed or harbored illegal immigrants.

Several students and adults asked both mayors questions on topics ranging from assimilation of illegal immigrants to employment issues.

Dr. Agapito Lopez asked both mayors for statistics to back up their views on crime.

DeStefano said crime in his city dropped 16 percent since initiating the ID card program, and there has been no disproportionate increase in homicide associated with illegal immigrants.

Barletta said that in a city that once averaged a homicide every seven years, nine of 13 homicides during his term were committed by illegal immigrants. He said that after the Relief Act was passed, even though declared unconstitutional in court, violent crime dropped 40 percent, he said.

Joseph George, a junior at the college, said “both guys seem to have good ideas” and are “doing what they think is best.”

Sophomore Caitlin Dewey, who is from the New Haven area, said she thought Barletta appeared “more negative” while DeStefano “came up with ideas and resolutions for problems.”

Sophomore Katie Kinsman said the forum helped her “realize how the federal government is absolutely failing us.”

Sophomore Erin Perry thought it was “interesting to see the contrast between both views after hearing so much about Hazleton and the growing Hispanic population.”