Saturday night with Jane's Addiction

it's classic...

New Haven's immigration saga goes to court

As a resident of Danbury, I've seen this situation too many times...

The 15 people who were led one by one through a Hartford federal courtroom Thursday were exactly where their families and friends feared they could end up: facing an immigration judge, shackled at the waist, hands and feet, accused of being in the country illegally.

[...]

Thursday's deportation proceedings, which were continued until next week, were a subdued episode in a series of incendiary events that began June 4, when New Haven approved creating a municipal identification card available to all residents, including illegal immigrants.


[...]

Attorneys from the Yale Law School Legal Services Organization had hoped to win the release of the 15 people in court Thursday by getting their $15,000 bail reduced.

But they settled for continuing the cases until next week. Visiting Judge Gary Malphrus said he needed more proof that the accused would return to court if released on bail.

Although the bail reductions were the focus of the hearing, Michael Wishnie, a Yale professor and immigration law expert, touched on a host of issues already raised by New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. and immigration activists.

He said the raids were retaliatory and that ICE violated its own rules by not notifying local police. Although ICE was looking for immigrants named in outstanding deportation orders, only four such people were arrested, he said.

Wishnie said attorneys will file motions to have the cases dismissed because agents entered homes without search warrants and some people arrested on the street were stopped based on their race or ethnicity.

Wishnie said the "extraordinary" support for those arrested within the community and the church many attended, St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, plus their intention to fight the charges, justified lowering their bail so they could gain their freedom while the cases proceed.

There have been several rallies in New Haven since the raids. About 40 immigration activists protested outside the Ribicoff building Thursday and a much bigger rally is planned for Saturday in New Haven.

"We will litigate these cases fiercely," Wishnie said after the hearings.

Wishnie said an immigration judge in Boston had already reduced bail in two cases heard there, to $3,500 and $1,500.

There is one GOLDEN rule everyone MUST remember...you DO NOT have to talk to any ICE agent if they do not have a warrant for you. Time and time again, immigration lawyers say that a majority of people who are caught by ICE are captured because they incriminate themselves by admitting to ICE agents that you're undocumented. The situation in New Haven is a no different than the countless raids that are made in Danbury where people are picked up because they didn't keep quiet and request legal representation.

After you admit that you're in the country illegally, there really isn't that much you can do from a legal standpoint.

Will Lieberman meet with Code Pink

Follow the live blogging at DailyKos and find out...

DELUCA RESIGNS AS MINORITY LEADER

Attaboy Galante! You just help take down the State Senate Minority leader.

I guess the rumors flying around the Capitol today were true but "Looney" DeLuca really didn't have any other choice.

Sen. Louis C. DeLuca, R-Woodbury, resigned today as leader of the Senate Republican minority.

He issued the following statement:

"After careful consideration, and out of respect for this institution and for my caucus, I have decided to step down from my leadership position. I promised from the beginning that I would not allow the mistake that I made interfere with my public office. By stepping down today, I am making sure that my personal issue does not overshadow all of the good work we've done and will do as a caucus."

"I want to say thank you to my friends, colleagues and constituents for the support they've given me and my family throughout this difficult time, and I apologize to anyone I've let down. It has been my pleasure to have served as Senate Minority Leader and I look forward to continuing to be a productive member of our caucus."

Update 1: State Senate President Don Williams issued the following statement:

"Senator DeLuca's decision to step down as Senate minority leader was the right decision for him to make, for both his caucus and for the people of Connecticut.

"The question of what, if any, other sanctions Senator DeLuca should face from his colleagues in the Senate is a question that my caucus will discuss when it meets again.

"Until then, I am putting all my energies into negotiating a fair and far reaching budget plan for the people of Connecticut."

Update 2: WTNH filed this early report.

DeLuca Resigns
Uploaded by ctblogger

GOP Chairman Chris Healy busted on DUI

I thought long and hard about what to say about GOP chairman Chris Healy's situation seeing that he has made some rather critical (and hypocritical) statements recently. After thinking about during the day, I left it would be better to just link to Maura's post on MLN and leave it at that.

Others can get their knives out for this one if they want, but I have more sympathy for Healy than a taste to score points off this. It's wrong that Healy drove drunk, and he should and will pay a steep legal price for it -- most likely losing his license for a year, since this is his second offense. But alcoholism is a terrible disease, as is depression, and the double scourge of both is a mighty obstacle to overcome.

Healy has done a remarkable job as Republican party chairman since he took over. He's a formidable foe: both a great communicator and a skillful strategist. I will never support his electoral goals or his party, but I sincerely root for his recovery and health.

Now, that doesn't mean that Gov. Jodi Rowland-Rell get off the hook...CTKeith nails it.

This Spin is unbelievable. This guy was arrested MAY 15th,told the Governor June 1st,the same day the DeLuca story broke and we're finding out JUNE 12th!!

Anyone wonder now why we don't have a BUDGET!!

The Ethics Queen, Jodi Rell, was so busy with covering for Deluca and covering up for Healy of course we didn't get a budget.

Jodi Rell is F-ing Shameless and stinks every bit as much as Rowland.

Rowland-Rell.

Happy belated blogiversary Spazeboy

It's amazing how time seems to fly right on by.

Happy anniversary Spaze...wish I could have been at the party when Marion Steinfels popped out the cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to you Marilyn Monroe style ;-)

Joe Lieberman (R-CT)

Read George Bush's favorite Democrat senator's excuse on his vote of confidence for Torture King Alberto Gonzales.

"My vote against going ahead with more debate on this no confidence resolution is not an expression of confidence in Attorney General Gonzales. It is an expression of opposition to spending any more time on a resolution that will accomplish nothing, instead of going ahead with the next item of business, which is energy legislation. If we work urgently together on energy legislation, we can accomplish something that is truly important to the American people.

"As I have said before, Attorney General Gonzales is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, and it's time for him to really look into his own heart and soul, as tough as it is, and ask whether he should continue in this job. And it is time for the Senate to move on right now to do something about energy prices supplies and energy prices."

Hmm, that bullshit excuse explanation sounds rather familiar. Where have I heard that line used before?

Showing his true colors again...Joe "DINOBoy" Lieberman (R-CT)

Must see TV

Oh, this is too rich not to share.

After giving this a lot of thought, I felt that the only I could give Republican Minority Leader Louis "Looney" DeLuca's press conference justice is by uploading his entire presser for everyone to see.

As you know, Mr. moral high ground is in a bit of trouble because of his dealings with Danbury kingpin trashman James Galante and his unbelievable press conference he held last week will probably go down as one of the weirdest moments in my short blogging career.

From DeLuca's jaw dropping opening statement and efforts to throw Waterbury Chief of Police Chief Neil O’Leary under the bus to his attempt to avoid the real critical issue, which alone should require him to resign...THAT HE told an undercover agent that he would TO HELP GALANTE ANY WAY HE COULD.

According to the arrest affidavit, the agent asked DeLuca to influence legislation to help Galante. DeLuca said, “I can’t influence it at this point because it’s out of my hands, but if it gets to the point where I have appointments, I can influence it that way. You know, if somebody, if it’s a commission that needs to be in that, that, is gonna be a watchdog on CRRA and make recommendations then I’ll make an appoint...generally I get an appointment.”

During this conversation the affidavit says DeLuca refused $5,000 in cash from the agent, saying he was “afraid them guys...tracing things and shit like that.” He later told the agent to tell Galante to “hang in there and I’ll keep my eyes and ears open.”

Hmm, it sure didn't seem like DeLuca turned down the cash because he felt it was IMMORAL or WRONG but rather because he could get caught...and that's pale in comparison to the other stuff DeLuca told the undercover agent.

I am simply amazed that this person still has a seat in the State Senate.

While we're at it, how about the shameless Republican leadership who continue to circle the wagons around their leader (although they had no problem rightfully demanding that former State Senator Ernest Newton get the axe for his dealings). The lack of criticism from such top Republicans as Gov. Jodi "I'm going to clean up corruption" Rowland-Rell and Chris "Don Clemons deserves to be censured by the House" Healy can only be described as pathetic. To have DeLuca to parade around the State Capitol acting like he alone should decide his fate when the Republicans should show some leadership and do the right thing speaks volumes about the State GOP as a whole.

Simply unbelievable.

For your viewing pleasure, here's Deluca's presser. Grab the popcorn, enjoy the train wreck, and feel free to add your favorite quote from DeLuca in the comments.

Thanks for the memories

I'm going to miss the Sopranos.

Online media personalities joined the Sunday morning talk-show roundtable

It was an online media double feature Sunday on WTIC's Beyond the Headlines.


First up to bat, CTNewsJunkie Christine Stuart joins the roundtable discussion regarding the ongoing Louis "Looney" DeLuca case.

Next up to bat, The New Haven Independent's Melissa Bailey grabs a seat at the roundtable and comments on the immigration situation in New Haven.

Holy Joe Lieberman wants to bomb Iran

Connecticut's favorite warmonger continues to bring shame to our state. On this morning's Face the Nation, George Bush's favorite Democrat senator gives the green light to bomb Iran.