City of New Haven Mayor, John DeStefano, wants to allow illegal immigrants, those in the United States illegally, the right to vote in New Haven municipal elections.First African-Americans got the vote. Then women. Now it’s immigrants’ turn.
Mayor John DeStefano presented that natural trajectory of American historical voting rights as he began selling a new campaign for state approval to let non-citizen New Haveners—whether they’re living here legally or not—vote in municipal elections.
DeStefano plans to ask a state legislative committee to introduce a bill in the upcoming session to give New Haven approval to offer non-citizen residents that vote.
First off, immigrants here legally (having completed the process of becoming citizens of the US) have the right to vote. Illegals do not. Saying "now it's immigrants' turn" is a deliberate attempt to portray those not supportive of illegals as being not supportive of legal immigrants.
Secondly, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, SEC. 2., states "No voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color."
Citizen, legal definition:
A person who, due to place of birth, naturalization, or other reasons (for example, citizenship of parents) is a member of a political community or of a civil state, such as a country or state, and is entitled to all the civil rights and protections thereof and owes allegiance to its government. See also naturalization and resident.
There are steps needed to be taken by those born outside of the United States to allow them to become citizens of the United States and if those here illegally did not follow those steps, they are not legally permitted to vote in any election in the United States of America.
Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Jerry Labriola blasts Mayor John DeStefano, characterizing the proposal as a "publicity stunt," and states "the right to vote in free elections is still an issue that people in many other countries continue to fight and die for. "We support legal immigration and reasonable measures to provide a path to citizenship, but we don't support providing rewards for illegal immigration."
What part of "illegal" does DeStefano not understand?
(Additions made to this post to more accurately reflect my meaning)