Trump scolds Harp’s boycott of White House meeting over sanctuary city issue

Mayor Toni N. Harp speaks to supporters of Nury Chavarria, who was on the verge of being deported back to Guatemala last week and has now been granted an emergency stay of that order, Wednesday, July 26, 2017. At right is Nury Chavarria with her two of her four children, Lindsay, 18 and 9-year-old Hayley Chavarri at Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal Church in the Fair Haven section of New Haven, Conn. less Mayor Toni N. Harp speaks to supporters of Nury Chavarria, who was on the verge of being deported back to Guatemala last week and has now been granted an emergency stay of that order, Wednesday, July 26, 2017. ... more Photo: Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Trump scolds Harp’s boycott of White House meeting over sanctuary city issue 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

WASHINGTON — President Trump scolded New Haven Mayor Toni Harp and other city leaders Wednesday over their decision to boycott a scheduled White House appearance after the Justice Department sent letters to 23 jurisdictions seeking more cooperation from so-called sanctuary cities.

Harp, a Democrat, confirmed in a phone call Wednesday that she decided not attend the meeting after learning 23 cities were being cited by Trump’s administration over their role as sanctuary cities. The Associated Press reported the letters sent threatened to issue subpoenas if cities don’t turn over documents proving they’re not withholding information over immigration status of people in custody.

New Haven was not among the cities that received letters. Harp was invited to and scheduled to attend the 3 p.m. meeting at the White House as she is in Washington, D.C., to participate in a U.S. Conference of Mayors. Harp said she declined to attend the meeting after learning about the letters being issued earlier Wednesday, citing her commitment to keeping New Haven a sanctuary city.

“I just felt that it was an inappropriate time to visit the president,” Harp said . She added: “I’m perplexed as to why this was the right time to take this action.”

According to a White House pool report, Trump personally called on Harp to stand after the meeting began at about 3:37 p.m. at the White House East Room.

“We have some really hardworking people in this room,” Trump said, before asking individuals, including Pascagoula, Mississippi, Mayor Dane Maxwell, Fort Worth, Texas, Mayor Betsy Price and Harp to stand, according to the pool report.

“Toni Harp. Where's Toni? Toni? Toni?” Trump said, according to a transcript of the event released by the White House. When Harp wasn’t there to stand, Trump joked that she might be a “sanctuary city person” and “that’s not possible, is it?”

Trump’s comment drew laughter, according to the White House transcript. Trump continued to criticize the mayors absent from the meeting.

“The mayors who choose to boycott this event have put the needs of criminal, illegal immigrants over law-abiding America,” Trump said. “So let me tell you, the vast majority of people showed up.”

Harp said she decided not to attend the White House event because, “I wouldn’t want to do anything to undermine the stances that I have had previously.”

“People who live in our community are citizens no matter where they came from, as long as they are law-abiding and most are. I’m not going to do anything that would undermine ... where we are in our city,” Harp said.

Connecticut Republican Party Chairman J.R. Romano said Wednesday he would like to know how Harp would respond to families of victims who were killed or raped by “illegal immigrants.” He cited an undocumented immigrant accused of killing two Northern California deputies and a man in the country illegally who worked as an Uber driver in California and is charged with committing four rapes.

“Those tragedies didn’t happen in New Haven, but it doesn’t mean the next one won’t,” Romano said, adding: “What does Toni Harp say to the children, wives and mothers of those police officers? What does she say to them?”

Romano referenced a Harvard-Harris Poll released in February 2017 that indicates a majority of Americans say local authorities should report undocumented immigrants to federal agents. Police departments in sanctuary cities such as New Haven often don’t request information about a person’s legal status.

“It would look as through public opinion is not in Mayor Harp’s favor,” Romano said.

Other invited mayors who boycotted Wednesday’s event included New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. Despite the boycotts, the pool report said each of the four rows were filled to near capacity, with about 100 attendees present.

Harp is scheduled to return from her conference trip Friday. After declining to attend the White House event Wednesday, Harp said she instead attended a session on women and leadership.

Reach Esteban L. Hernandez at 203-680-9901.