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Zachary Comeau Daily News Staff @zcomeau_MDN

MILFORD - Four candidates for two selectman seats each had slightly different opinions on immigration in town when asked at a forum Wednesday night. Some advocated for education and pushing assimilation while others said the federal government needs to do a better job of immigration enforcement to ease the burdensome local effects of illegal immigration.

In recent years, Milford has seen a steady rise in the number of South American immigrants, most notably from Ecuador and Brazil.

Mike Walsh, the current School Committee chairman running for the unexpired two-year seat against Harold Rhodes, said the town has a long history of welcoming immigrants, citing theEuropean immigrants from Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Poland and other countries that came to Milford several generations ago.

Whats important, though, is we need to make sure theyre here legally, Walsh said of the current wave of immigrants coming to town. According to some estimates of officials, there are a few thousand Ecuadorean and Brazilian immigrants in Milford, with a large percentage of them undocumented.

For those here legally, Walsh said the town has an obligation to take care of them, but undocumented families are placing a large burden on the school system.

There are 88 more English Language Learner students in the school system this year compared to last year, according to officials. The school system doesnt become aware of some of those students until just before the school year begins, Walsh said.

Walsh said to ensure better assimilation, legal immigrants should be educated on American principles and customs. He pointed to what he said is a practice of Ecuadorean parents to carry their children around the rough terrain of Ecuador, which he said is routinely seen around town.

If theyre here legally, we owe it to them to work with them," he said.

He also said the town should be more welcoming to legal immigrants, citing negative comments made about the population in public places.

Rhodes, his opponent, sang a different tune, rather than talking about the burden placed on the town. He referencing the undocumented immigrant population and the practices of the Milford police, which is to detain undocumented immigrants at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. If ICE isnt seeking that person, theyre free to go after release from local custody.

Thats the fair way to do it, Rhodes said.

The other selectman race sees Building Commissioner and School Committee member JohnErickson against incumbent Bill Buckley, and both said recent immigration to Milford is burdening the schools and town financially.

The impact on the school system, particularly the ELL aspect, is by far the biggest impact on this community, Erickson said.

Buckley cited Milfords rich history of accepting immigrants, citing the several European countries from which immigrants settled in Milford, but shifted to focus on illegal immigration in Milford, which he said is effecting not only the schools, but hospitals and housing.

Even landlords are taking advantage of (illegal immigration), Buckley said, citing illegal boarding houses.

Buckley said the town has done a great job in welcoming legal immigrants, but assimilation hasnt come as quickly as citizens would hoped, he said, citing immigrants still living in a shadow economy.

Thats primarily where I hear residents have the biggest concerns, he said.

Erickson advocated for the community to be compassionate toward immigrants with proper documentation, but agreed that assimilation has been slow.

Its a function of human nature that it takes time to assimilate to new cultures to our area, he said.

Zachary Comeau can be reached at 508-634-7556 and zcomeau@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZComeau_MDN.

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Candidates: Illegal immigration burdening Milford - Wicked Local