New London — Some city Democrats claim Republican mayoral candidate Martin Olsen supports “further deportations" of New London residents.

Passero and two Democratic City Councilors issued a statement this week claiming as much.

Olsen, in response, said Democrats are willfully misinterpreting statements he made for a Sept. 1 column in The Day.

“Shame on the Democratic Town Committee for not only misquoting and twisting my words but also trying to instill fear into our community,” he said.

The accusation flying back and forth pertains to Olsen’s response to The Day when asked if, as mayor, he would expect more cooperation by city police in helping federal agents enforce immigration laws.

“When appropriate, the answer is yes,” was Olsen’s answer, in part.

Olsen said his comments about helping federal agents referenced a July 17, 2019, incident in New London in which police claim they unwittingly aided Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in capturing a man running away.

City police union President Todd Lynch told The Day at the time that officers would have reacted the same way and aided any law enforcement officer working in New London. Lynch said politics don’t play a role in police duties.

Police Chief Peter Reichard had said that city police do not participate in raids or sweeps with federal officials and don’t actively seek out people with federal immigration detainers or deportation orders. Police will only detain people with immigration violations if they have active criminal warrants.

In fact, Reichard said, city police don’t even see the information regarding someone’s immigration status, whereas federal agencies do and can ask police to hold a person. New London police will not hold someone for federal officials if it is only an immigration-related hold, Reichard told The Day.

Olsen, in the interview with The Day, continued by saying, “Immigration is a federal issue and it should be dealt with in Washington. It is misguided being dealt with here, locally.”

“The police understand their role, and I fully support their efforts,” Olsen said.

But Democrats continue to decry Olsen’s statements and his ‘No’ vote last year on a City Council resolution that states “no city official shall question, arrest, detain or take other law enforcement action against an individual based only upon the individual’s perceived race, national origin, religion, or language ...”

Passero said it was “shameful for Olsen to ignore the council’s resolution.”

“Our immigrant neighbors should not be treated as enemies. We stand with all of our immigrant families and reaffirm our commitment that New London is a safe and welcoming city for all,” Passero said in a statement.

City Councilor and Public Safety Committee Chairwoman Alma Nartatez, in a statement in reaction to Olsen’s comments, said she was proud to have championed the resolution.

“We have had this debate and the people of New London made it clear that we are a welcoming community and no statement by Marty Olsen or Donald Trump will change that,” she said.

Councilor Efrain Dominguez said in the same statement that “Latinx families have been unfairly targeted by the current administration in the White House.”

“Today we proudly declare that in New London all residents, white, black or brown, are welcome to live, learn, work and contribute to the culture of this great city,” he said.

New London Green Party mayoral candidate Frida Berrigan and City Council candidate Ronna Stuller, in response to questions from The Day, said they thought the council resolution should have been an ordinance, something Berrigan said would have been a “more durable and enforceable instrument.”

Stuller, in part, said, “just as we would not want to see NLPD helping the IRS round up tax evaders, I don’t think it’d make sense for our city department to assist ICE in targeting immigrants."

“I would like to see the city disallow ICE agents from patrolling the courthouses here in hopes of capturing undocumented immigrants; after all, this practice is what led a very good officer to participate in what I believe was a questionable and harmful action,” Stuller said.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Rob Pero called it “desperation” by city Democrats to try and link Trump and federal issues to the local race. He said it was clear Olsen never alluded to doing anything with immigration in New London.

“I think we should really be talking about things that affect New London,” Pero said.

Berrigan responded to Olsen’s comment about immigration being a federal issue to be dealt with in Washington.

“The federal government is ‘dealing’ with immigration by criminalizing and condemning people and subjecting children and families to the cruel and unusual punishment of forced separation. So, I take strong issue with leaving it to Washington,” Berrigan said. “As the current President runs up a massive deficit with tax breaks to his wealthy friends, shortsighted fiscal policy and massive military spending, he seeks to make immigrants the scapegoats, the drain and the problem. I am disappointed that someone seeking to represent all of New London would fall for that old trick."

“As mayor, I would celebrate immigrants, I would ensure a hearty welcome, I would model — and insist on — respectful interaction between civic entities, city departments and the new arrivals. And, I would build bridges to help immigrants connect with long-time residents,” Berrigan said.

g.smith@theday.com