ACLU-DE Statement on Laurel Police Department Sharing List of Haitian Immigrants’ Addresses with FBI

In an unprecedented move in Delaware, it has been reported that the Laurel Police Department has compiled a list of information regarding the location of people perceived to be Haitian immigrants living in the Laurel area and supplied that information (including home addresses) to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

This release of information was done without any clear indication of what the information would be used for or why the FBI requested it. When supplying the list to Chief Robert Kracyla via email, Laurel Police Sgt. Jared Haddock stated: “I will let you know if we encounter anymore immigrants.”

The ACLU of Delaware is calling on Governor Meyer and the Delaware Legislature to ACT NOW in the face of clear targeting of the Haitian community in Laurel and the threat this poses to other immigrant communities across the state.

The following can be attributed to Mike Brickner, Executive Director of the ACLU of Delaware:

I am appalled that the Laurel Police Department has been gathering information about Haitian people in the Laurel area and supplying that data to federal authorities, including what Chief Robert Kracyla described as “a list of locations that we have encountered immigrants we believe to be undocumented.”

This absolute disregard for the rights or wellbeing of Laurel residents poses a clear threat to the freedom and safety of all our immigrant communities in Delaware, and we cannot allow such actions to continue.

The Laurel Police Department, like all local police departments in Delaware, does not enforce immigration laws. Last year, when our lawmakers passed House Bill 182 to ban formal 287(g) agreements, they made it clear that Delaware does not support local law enforcement’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Delawareans spoke up swiftly and strongly to reject the idea that our local agencies should act as tools for the federal administration’s cruel attacks on immigrants across the country.

There is no legitimate reason for these departments to compile lists of local residents who they perceive to be of a certain national origin or immigration status. All Delawareans have equal protection rights under both the state and federal constitutions, and targeting individuals based on their national origin seriously undermines their civil rights. It also makes local law enforcement’s work harder, by sowing distrust amongst the immigration community.

Governor Meyer must issue renewed guidance that explicitly and permanently closes backdoor channels for collaboration with ICE, including data sharing and informal collaboration. The General Assembly must pass critical legislation that ensures Delaware remains a place where all people — regardless of immigration or citizenship status — can live without fear and are guaranteed the civil rights and liberties of every person in this country. This includes protection of sensitive locations, a ban on profiling based on real or perceived immigration status, and ensuring immigration officers show their face and identify themselves.

Every moment of delay makes our communities less safe. The time to act is NOW.