Student tells New Haven aldermen immigrant families live in fear and urges refusal to collaborate with ICE

Valentina, a college student and member-organizer, told the New Haven Board of Alders at its May 26 meeting that recent immigration enforcement has left many immigrant residents afraid to leave their homes or go near the courthouse.

She said she moved to New Haven in 2021 and now checks for immigration agents ‘‘every time I see a black truck’’ and described seeing an immigrant father arrested while taking his daughter to school. ‘‘These are people who wake up every morning and go to work, pay rent, buy groceries and contribute to our communities. They are not a threat to New Haven,’’ she said.

Her remarks were delivered during the public comment portion of the meeting and were followed by a brief acknowledgment from the presiding officer. Valentina urged aldermen to use ‘‘every tool available’’ to keep immigrant families safe, to refuse collaboration with federal immigration enforcement ‘‘whenever possible,’’ and to ensure students and workers can move freely without fear.

Why it matters: Valentina framed her plea as both personal testimony and a policy request, asking the board to consider municipal safeguards that could reduce cooperation with immigration enforcement and to clarify whether city processes or partnerships could expose residents to federal immigration action.

Board response and context: The public comment was heard at the start of the meeting; the transcript records no formal motion tied to Valentina’s request. Several agenda items that followed concerned city operations, grants and ordinances but there was no immediate board resolution recorded in the transcript adopting specific immigrant-protection measures. Public-comment testimony like Valentina’s is a routine avenue for residents to request legislative or administrative action, but any formal change would require a motion, committee review or staff directive.

Next steps: The transcript does not record a direct pledge or action by the board in response to the remarks. Interested residents should expect any policy follow-up to be introduced as an ordinance, committee referral or administrative directive in a future meeting.