Letter to the Editor: Norwalk Shouldn’t Die on the Hill of Political Rhetoric and Fail at Every Level in Accountability – ICE is Federal and We The People are Local and Must Take the High Road for a Better Future! 

I see and I hear all the political rhetoric that surrounds the conversation regarding the incidents of this week in Norwalk, CT regarding the apprehension of 3 persons by ICE  for detainment. What I am waiting for is any degree of common sense from both authorities, and the people in general. It is easy to take a side and go with it and vehemently oppose ICE presence in Norwalk, without any semblance of what the law or the consequences are. It is remiss to not point out that we in Connecticut are not a jurisdiction of our own country by right of any kind. So, the fact is we are under the  jurisdiction and final decree of the United States of America and it’s governing federal authorities, whether people like it or not. If people don’t like it, that is fine, speak out,  but don’t just think that matters. Don’t think it matters that CT continues to pass laws to pacify the public, yet have no absolute authority to enforce said laws. Federal law will  in every time in court. CT thinks it can tell the populous lies as it condemns ICE and passes un-enforceable laws that are meaningless and not worth the paper they are printed on.  

The real issue here is that which seems to escape the attention of those fueled by anger.  Not much in the way of viable solutions ever come out of anger. Instead, we are  continually distracted and consumed in divisiveness because our leaders guide us in that  direction to keep attention off of their own continued failures.  

This week there was an incident involving ICE coming to our community and arresting 3 persons. The main contention and topic of the press conference concentrated on ICE  being present at the Monroe St. police station without permission. What a crock of garbage; as if anyone of the public or federal authority can’t be in a public parking lot.  Does anyone see the clear distraction here? What the real question is, and remains unanswered, is why were the 3 suspects being sought and apprehended, and why were local law enforcement authorities prevented from working with the federal authorities to share information? I guess we are to understand according to our mayor and police chief Harry Riling and James Walsh respectively, that we don’t work with federal law enforcement because we are a “sanctuary” city. Yet, our governor Ned Lamont walks that back and says CT is not a sanctuary state. Which is true? Are the actions of local law enforcement both here and across CT evidenced by a working relationship with federal law enforcement to determine if illegal alien criminals are present and should be removed from the state? Maybe if local authorities worked with federal authorities, there  would not be a need for what we witnessed this week? Were the persons apprehended guilty of criminal acts? This is a good question, the importance of which our incompetent leaders have failed to address in any way, shape or form.  

This leaves the community to ignite itself in a politically fueled divisive debate regarding who wants illegals here and who does not, with no logical discussion as to the real concern, who wants criminal illegals protected along with law abiding ones and wants to die on the hill of political rhetoric no matter what consequences are posed to public safety. 

The only candidate for mayor that has garnered a common sense position on the events of this week is Vinny Sciccitano and that can be seen here,  in his heartfelt video regarding how he feels about immigrants and the value of basic human rights.  

As we move forward in Norwalk as citizens and residents, I personally want answers as to why we can’t work together to ensure law and order and safety in this community.  Why must we be subjected to political divisiveness about basic rights for all members of the community? If there are criminal illegals present, they should be turned over to the federal authorities, period. If there is a silent and censored vitriol between local and federal law enforcement causing law abiding illegals to be violently apprehended mistakenly, that is its own crime against humanity which is the result of incompetence and putting political rhetoric above compassion for all persons deserving such.  

This is simple common sense folks. Not every illegal is a criminal and not every illegal is a law abiding undocumented immigrant. We need to identify what hill we want to die  on here, and if political divisiveness is something that will solve any of the real problems  we face as a city moving forward.  

I for one am tired of the division, the rhetoric and the hate filled rants that do nothing to solve the real problems we all see and need attention to be directed toward. We would do better to stop all the distraction and concentrate on working together to solve the real problems facing Norwalk.  

Liz Conti 

Editor’s note: This commentary represents the views of the author alone and does not reflect the opinions or positions of Nancy on Norwalk or its editorial staff. We recognize that immigration is a deeply sensitive and complex issue, and that the language used to describe it carries weight. Publication here is intended to provide space for a range of perspectives in the community, not to signal endorsement.