“ICE, whether we like it or not, has the legal ability to go into public spaces,” such as the public library or city parks, Mayor Justin Elicker said on Thursday when asked about how federal immigration agents now have authorized access to Tweed New Haven Airport. “I’m not excited about that. I’m against that. But ICE can legally do that.” Elicker was responding to reporters’ questions a day after the Independent first reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested a Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) basketball player named Deng Deng last Friday at the Morris Cove regional airport. A spokesperson for Avports, the private company that manages the public airport, told the Independent that they are required by federal law to provide access to authorized federal law enforcement agents — including ICE. Elicker said he met with Avports officials on Tuesday and they told him the same thing. “We’re looking into confirming that that is true,” Elicker said on Thursday. “I suspect that is true. We want to make sure that’s absolutely true.” He said the city is also “looking into whether there are ways we can ensure our community is safe and limit ICE’s ability within the law to target people in our community.” What does he say to New Haveners who are now afraid to go to Tweed because they know that ICE has an authorized presnce at the airport? That’s when Elicker pointed out that federal law allows ICE and other federal law enforcement agents to go to public places. “It’s upsetting,” he continued. “I feel for residents in these moments of risk that are vulnerable.” He stressed that the New Haven Police Department and city employees “do not coordinate with ICE” and do not receive a heads up before an ICE raid. “We will do everything we can to educate people on their rights, to respond as a community, to be vocal” about how New Haven is a welcoming city. He also called out President Donald Trump for saying that “he’s targeting rapists, violent criminals” with federal immigration enforcement. “That is just not factual,” Elicker said. “The overwhelming [number of] people being arrested by ICE around our nation are people that haven’t done anything wrong.” Click on the video above to watch Elicker’s full comment. The post Elicker: City Still Researching Law After ICE Arrest At Tweed appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less