Marlborough immigration moves criticized
By Doug Grindle Community Reporter

Marlborough - Immigrants are criticizing the Marlborough city government for recent moves aimed at curbing illegal immigration into the city. Immigrants said the city is becoming less welcoming to all immigrants - legal as well as illegal.

Immigrants said the recent moves by the city resemble repression they have experienced in their home countries. Ilton Lisboa is a resident of Marlborough who emigrated from Brazil 20 years ago.

"We fought from 1964 to 1984 dictators who killed people and sent them to prison," Lisboa said. "We were being hunted in our own country. Now we are seeing the same thing here in America."

On June 11, the City Council passed a motion that directs the mayor to investigate opening a federal immigration office in the city. Under the proposal the city would fund a branch of the U.S. Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The city's Legal Department has been conferring with federal officials about the feasibility of that idea, as well as other alternatives, City Council President Arthur Vigeant said. Vigeant co-sponsored the proposal along with city councilors Paul Ferro, Richard Towle and Steven Levy. Vigeant said he is waiting to hear back from the mayor before discussing the measure further.

Vigeant said the measure aims at stemming the flow of immigrants into the city.

"It will discourage illegals for being in this town," he said.

He added that newcomers can also more easily learn how to immigrate legally if the office were close at hand.

"It will also give people an opportunity if they have questions," Vigeant added.

But immigrants said the measure sends the wrong signal. Frank Kavanagh, the president of the Brazilian American Association based in Framingham, said the City Council vote was worrying.

"What's alarming about that was it was near-unanimous," Kavanagh said.

Only Ward 5 Councilor Maura Navin Webster voted against sending the proposal to the mayor for study.

"That's just a clear statement from the town representatives that 'We don't want you here,'" Kavanagh said.

Lisboa echoed the sentiment.

"The message for the immigrants as a whole is very negative," Lisboa said. "It doesn't matter if you are legal or illegal if you are an immigrant."

Vigeant said the proposal is meant to stop illegals but not legal immigrants.

"It's dealing with the illegals in the city, period," he said. "The people who are in the city legally have nothing to worry about."

Vigeant added the problem is that illegal immigrants take more from city services than they add to the city's finances, and it is not fair for seniors and other people to have to pay for that.

"We're dealing with people that are breaking the law and we shouldn't have to subsidize people who are breaking the law," Vigeant said.

Immigrants disagree. They said that even illegal immigrants pay taxes.

"The government allows everyone to work," Lisboa said. "The taxes are taken from their pay check with no exceptions. All employees take tax from their pay check regardless of his status."

Vigeant said that is not possible, because illegal workers do not have documentation that would allow them to pay taxes.

But Lisboa said any immigrant who lacks a Social Security card or a green card can still get a work authorization number from the federal government.

Lisboa added that the status of an immigrant can be in limbo for 10 years or more, waiting to be issued a green card after they have applied.

"The great majority has applied for it," Lisboa said. "They receive employment authorization. They are considered able to live here. They are able to apply for Social Security. They can get a driver's license. They are allowed to live normally. But they are not allowed to leave the country.

"From there to [getting] a green card it can take God knows how long," Lisboa added.

Vigeant said he could see how the process of working toward a certificate of citizenship could be a long one.

"This is the most valuable document in the world, so it should take time," Vigeant said.

The mayor has 90 days after the June 11 vote to report back to councilors on installing a federal immigration office in Marlborough.