20 Dec 2011
DOJ finds widespread discrimination against Latinos by East Haven Police Department
"DOJ
released its findings regarding anti-Latino profiling and
discrimination by the EHPD. As with the DOJ report last week on
Maricopa County, DOJ makes detailed findings of unconstitutional
activity, indicates it will proceed with litigation if a
judicially-enforceable consent decree is not negotiated, and curtails
EHPD iimmigration enforcement activities. Because there is no 287g
agreemetn with EHPD to suspend, DOJ instructed that EHPD officers cease
immigration enforcement absent thorough training. The DOJ investigation was launched in fall 2009, in response to a
complaint from St. Rose Church and Apostle Immigration Services,
represented by the Worker & Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinc at
aYale. The clinic also represents a number of individual plaintiffs in
Section 1983 litigation against the EHPD and has represented other EHPD
arrestees in removal proceedings. I have cc-d the students here, who
have also been co-supervised over the years by Susan Hazeldean and Annie
Lai. Chris Lasch supervised students in the successful defense of Fr.
Manship after his arrest. Press reports indicate that a federal grand jury continues to
deliberate regarding possible criminal charges against individual EHPD
officers as well. The DOJ findings letter is here and early press clips are available at Feds Vindicate Latinos, Father Manship and Justice Department Finds East Haven Police Department Deliberately Targeted Latinos." - Michael J. Wishnie, Clinical Professor of Law, Yale Law School - (203) 436-4780 - michael.wishnie@yale.edu