Judge Denies Motion for Delaying Depositions In Lawsuit Over 2006 Immigration Raid

Mayor Mark Boughton and his former chief of staff, State Senator Michael McLachlan were  scheduled to give testimony this month in a suit that alleges the city of Danbury and Mayor Boughton violated the civil rights of the day laborers when they were arrested in Kennedy Park in 2006. Plaintiffs says the city did not have authority to enforce immigration law and were racial profiling the men when they were arrested.

 

Boughton contends the arrests were ordered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE. But agents have given testimony that the city ordered the arrests and asked federal authorities for assistance.

Boughton and McLachlan had filed a motion asking that their depositions be delayed until after the November general election.  Boughton is running to be the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor while McLachlan is seeking re-election as State Senator in the 24th district. In their motion, they ask the court to delay their depositions until the election is over because "both campaigns require intensive preparation over the next several months."

 

But Magistrate Judge Donna Martinez denied the motion saying the men did not prove a legal need for a delay.  In a Tuesday email, McLachlan said he asked for a new date because his campaign kick off is scheduled the day before the deposition. Mayor Boughton did not return calls seeking comment.

Meanwhile, immigration officials are still moving ahead with removal proceedings against the plaintiffs.  The eight men are undocumented immigrants. One of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, Yale Law Student intern Ari Holtzblatt says they've appealed the removal proceedings.