A few weeks ago, Gov. Patrick was in Milford for a town-hall-style event. A group of citizens concerned about the illegal immigrant problem in their community showed up to ask him about it—in particular, the Governor’s flip-flop on Secure Communities. (He was for it when he was losing re-election, against it once the election was won).
The video of Gov. Patrick in Milford is linked here.
First, watch a nervous Deval fumble through his answer. Then Patrick gets comfortable and lays out his position:
“We don’t need Secure Communities to do anything... All you get today from Secure Communities in my estimation is the impression that we are doing something else. What you get on the downside is [sic] a whole lot of folks who are worried about being targeted who might be here totally legally.”
If Gov. Patrick supported Secure Communities and Milford police had reported repeat-offender and crimmigrant Guamon to ICE in 2007, 2008 or 2009, this drunken crook might have been deported. And Matthew Denice would be alive today.
But Gov. Patrick says Secure Communities is a waste of time. Deporting violent criminals before they kill Massachusetts citizens is just “the impression that we are doing something else.” Leaving the crimmigrants here to hurt more people and break more laws is better than getting “folks worried about being targeted,” even when Secure Communities doesn’t target anyone. You have to get arrested first.
No matter. Deval Patrick has his priorities. And keeping 23-year-old Milford residents alive is NOT one of them.
"The truth is something [Warren] probably prefers not to confront. Harvard doesn’t come calling just because you’re a smart lawyer and a terrific teacher — not with Warren’s modest, Oklahoma upbringing and non-Ivy League education. She is not your typical Harvard professor. At a certain point, when the law school was under pressure to promote diversity, she represented a three-fer: a great lawyer with a national profile, a woman, and a minority, at least by virtue of family lore. "
-- Joan Vennochi
