LAKEVILLE — Attorney General William Tong knows first hand about the plight of immigrants.
He spoke to a standing-room-only crowd at Trinity Lime Rock Church March 6, which together with those on Zoom totaled 225. The event was hosted by Vecinos Seguros 2, a grassroots organization that works to make sure those without legal status know their rights.
Tong has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and is part of a group of attorneys general around the country who are banding together to take legal action against his actions.
He stirred the audience with his personal story. Growing up in West Hartford, where he remembered kids showing up at his school from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam after he was the first Asian student enrolled, he thought “they were refugees and I was the son of immigrants. I thought I was better than them. In fullness of time, I realized what we were all doing here. My parents and grandparents ran for their lives in China. I am nothing but the son of refugees. There was no daylight between those kids and the immigrants showing up today.”
Tong related how his parents met while both were working in a restaurant in Hartford. One day, in the 1970s, a representative from the Immigration and Naturalization Service showed up and because his father was undocumented, was threatened with deportation. After much thought, the senior Tong was resigned to the fact he would have to leave. But shortly before the deadline, while driving along the Berlin Turnpike, he decided to make a last-ditch effort. He went home and wrote a six-page handwritten letter to then-President Richard Nixon explaining his case. The INS agent returned later and said the president had read the letter and sent the message that the country welcomed him and urged him to stay.
Tong said he’s often asked what brings him hope during these times. “In one generation, I went from that Chinese restaurant to attorney general of this state. There are kids out there now; families living with that dream. We need to help them keep it.”
The attorney general said that when Trump talks about denaturalizing citizens and then about anchor babies, he is talking about him. “Banning birthright citizens is utterly and brazenly unconstitutional.” Audience members, as they did several times during the presentation, applauded loudly.
Speaking on the importance of immigration for moral and economic structural reasons, Tong noted, “America runs on Dunkin’ and immigrant workers. There would be no economy without immigrants.” Half of all farm workers are undocumented, as are half of those working in the meat packing industry he said.
It was standing-room only for Attorney General William Tong’s talk on immigration at Trinity Church Lime Rock Thursday, March 7. Photo by Ruth Epstein
Touching on Connecticut’s Trust Act that was passed in 2013, Tong explained that it limits how local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration officials to protect the rights of undocumented immigrants. He called efforts to repeal the act “ridiculous,” saying “the federal government does its job and we here do ours.” He said if anyone tries to get rid of the act, he will fight it and believes he’ll win, emphasizing several times that Connecticut is a sovereign state. The federal government has a lot of power, but can’t come to Connecticut to tell its citizens what to do.
When asked what people can do to help those without legal status, Tong advised not to put anyone at risk and make sure they have a plan if ICE shows up. Agents must have a judicial warrant to come on private property. He also recommended they seek people who will provide pro-bono legal advice. He said those holding green cards have legal status and should be respected by ICE. He also recommended not using the word “sanctuary” since it has no legal meaning and can be inflammatory. He was also forthright in saying not everyone can be protected from deportation.
He added there is no evidence to support the claims that immigrants create crime more than American citizens and stressed the Trust Act does not protect violent criminals.
At the outset, Tong said he and his colleagues had sued the federal government when Trump and the Office of Policy and Management tried to freeze all federal funding for a variety of grants, especially those dealing with medical research. “We now have an injunction to stop him from breaking the law. Remembering we have checks and balances, we’re serving as the only check since there is so much disinformation out there.”
Coming to the end of his message, Tong’s tone was foreboding. “We’re not on the precipice of a constitutional crisis, we’re in one. Trump is already not in compliance with federal court orders. If he doesn’t follow Supreme Court rulings, we’re in a dark place. We all have the responsibility to take to the streets and speak out.”
John Mongeau takes in the size of the trains.
The fun began Thursday with a community picnic. Action picked up on Friday with a free concert at the Douglas Library and a night market at the Station.
The railroad museum and the accordion museum inside the Station were packed with guests glimpsing into the past.
Paul Ramunni, owner of New England Accordion Connection and Museum, delved into music history and demonstrated unique devices like a player accordion from 19th century Germany, a working phonograph with wax records and a crank-operated music box made from old Ford Model A parts that played “Jingle Bells.”
Ryan Heacox and “Ms. Lizzie,” a 1930 Model A Ford.Riley Klein
On Saturday, the Station was visited by the Model A Restoration Club, which was touring the Northwest Corner on a weekend outing. The group stopped at Lime Rock Park for some track time before heading up to North Canaan. Ryan Heacox, MARC member, was gifted his 1930 Model A by his grandmother, Bunny McGuire. He said the nearly 100-year-old car still drives great and can reach a top speed of 65 miles per hour.
Running through town Saturday morning was the 5-mile foot race hosted each summer by the YMCA. This year’s winner was Christian Brooks, 19, of Somers, New York, who completed the course in 33:04 minutes. It was his third year competing and his best result.
Christian Brooks leads the 5-mile race.Riley Klein
Behind the Station on Saturday were a pair of parked trains, several informational booths and many curious attendees with cameras. Railroad experts shared knowledge with guests and emphasized the importance of track safety.
“Every three hours a person or vehicle is hit by a train in the United States,” said Kevin Burns, Connecticut Department of Transportation’s coordinator for Operation Lifesaver. “Never walk on train tracks, and be careful on crossings.”
Other booths represented the Danbury Railway Museum, Housatonic Railroad Company and the Friends of the Valley Railroad, a volunteer group that supports the scenic train based in Essex, Connecticut.
John Mongeau, of Lakeville, was taking in the sheer scale of the locomotives.
“I’m fascinated with the size of these things,” Mongeau said. “The amount of maintenance work that must be involved to keep these things running, keep them shiny and beautiful, it’s sort of overwhelming.
Later on Saturday was the 31st annual Bed Race on Pease Street in front of the North Canaan Elementary School.
The Royal Flush, a returning victor of the Bed Race, won again with a team of Will Perotti, Samantha Perotti, Anthony DeMeo, and Joe and Becky Schaefer. The “Flush” was not flush with team members just before the start and recruited from the audience of onlookers.
The Royal Flush won the bed race again.John Coston
The Hot Mess Express, a wig-outfitted all-women team, came in second, but it had high spirits and even performed calisthenics before the start of the race to pump up their power. Team members were Jill McKearney, Amy Carol, Jean Schaefer, Chris Schaefer, Andrea Alexander, Laura Marks and Anita Graham.
The festivities concluded Sunday with a buffet breakfast, free movie at Colonial Theatre and a walking tour presented by the Canaan History Center.
“It’s been very well received,” said Jenn Crane, head of the North Canaan Events Committee.
Returning to the tradition of yesteryear, the 2025 summer celebration prioritized railroad heritage. Railroad Days was held in August, as it was when it began 61 years ago, and was separate from the July carnival.
Crane said the committee “really tried to go back to the roots” while expanding the summertime community offerings in North Canaan.
