Councilman To ICE: 'Get The Hell Out Of Southington'

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A recent federal immigration raid at a Southington car wash, resulting in four workers being taken away, has prompted intense debate at the town council level.

Southington Town Council members clashed along partisan lines about the issue at their last meeting on June 23, with one Republican questioning the words of a Democrat quoted in the news.

In fact, Republican Councilman Tony Morrison said he was "disturbed" by what Democratic Councilman Jack Perry had to say about the June 9 incident at the local car wash.

At issue was an enforcement operation at the D-Hand Car Wash in Southington on 655 Queen St. involving federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Later that week, ICE authorities said they arrested four illegal alien employees from Guatemala who were in the United States without authorization.

The ICE statement on June 12, however, did not name the suspects, disclose the charges, or say what became of the four men.

Agents also reportedly didn't show a warrant or even identify themselves when they grabbed the four immigrants.

Symbolic of the division in the country about the issue, Perry was quoted in a news report as saying ICE should "get the hell out of Southington."

When questioned by GOP Councilman Michael DelSanto about his stand, Perry doubled down.

DelSanto asked Perry, during councilman communications, if he still believed ICE should "get the hell out" of Southington and Connecticut.

"Absolutely," Perry said.

Morrison defended ICE and the job they have to do, calling Perry's statement "irresponsible."

According to Morrison, the wages paid to the immigrants should be paid to American citizens.

Morrison also defended the country's immigration stance, claiming a million people enter the country legally per year and the U.S. is already "generous" toward immigrants.

He said Perry should have said the immigrants should leave the country and come back, legally, after a year, adding the federal government is promising them $1,000 and a one-way ticket to their country of origin.

Saying he comes from a "family of immigrants," Perry said the borders should be secure, but the government should help "immigrants that contribute to society" to get help.

Perry also criticized the agents' tactics when they grabbed and took away the quartet from the local car wash.

He said it is "scary that individuals came to the community, not dressed as agents, and detained people."

Equally scary, according to Perry, was the fact that the council and local police department were unaware of the ICE operation.

Perry pushed for a council request to direct Southington Town Manager Alex Ricciardone to contact ICE and seek notification of future raids to the Southington Police Department.

That idea was nixed by Southington Town Council Chairman Paul Chaplinsky, who said asking ICE for a heads up on such efforts was "unreasonable."

Ricciardone, meanwhile, did contact Southington Police Chief Jack Daly about seeking ICE input prior to any operations.

According to Daly's written response, the Southington Board of Police Commissioners discussed the idea, but ultimately it supported the chief's opinion it is "not in the best interests of our police department to solicit any communication from a federal immigration authority" investigating possible immigration violations.

Ultimately, no action was taken by the council, which is comprised of six Republicans and three Democrats.

For the minutes of the June 23 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.

From June 12: 'Southington Car Wash Workers Detained By ICE From Guatemala: Feds'