NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The City of New Haven announced it was launching an investigation into a city employee for sharing confidential information with federal immigration officials.
During a news conference Thursday, Mayor Justin Elicker announced Patricia Clark, who is the registrar for the New Haven office of Vital Statistics was placed on administrative leave on Dec. 1 pending an investigation.
The Office of Vital Statistics issues Birth, Death, and Marriage Certificates as well as issues the Elm City Resident ID card. City officials said out of the more than 200 marriage licenses issued from Aug. 23 through Nov. 20, Clark flagged 73 marriages as questionable or potentially fraudulent and reported them to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The marriages reported specifically involve at least one individual who is not a U.S. citizen.
While 73 marriages were flagged the number is likely higher. Clark told city officials in February she received guidance from an official at the Connecticut Department of Health to report suspected fraudulent marriages to federal officials.
The city of New Haven is a sanctuary city which means the city denies cooperation with federal officials when enforcing immigration laws. Mayor Justin Elicker said Clark’s actions may have violated an executive order.
“The order states that no New Haven officer or city employee shall disclose confidential information except under certain circumstances,” said Elicker.
Elicker said during Thursday’s news conference that being a welcoming city is a vital idea for New Haven.
“Regardless of your immigration status, your documentation status, or any other characteristics, you are welcome here in City Hall, you're welcome here in our community,” said Elicker.
New Haven’s Health Director, Maritza Bond said the city will begin notifying the couples impacted in the coming days.
“We are going to be reviewing the necessary records and notifying the public that needs to be notified immediately so that we can be able to ensure that we are communicating to those that may have been affected,” said Bond.
Elicker said no other employees were involved and no Elm City Resident ID information was given to federal officials, and there are no known investigations into the couples.
The city has hired a third party to complete the investigation, once completed if city policy is violated City officials will take appropriate action.
Jake Garcia is a multimedia journalist for FOX61 News. He can be reached at jgarcia@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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