Sylacauga Jim Heigl blamed others but not himself for the lack of communication concerning a recent influx of Haitian migrants.
Following a story published by 1819 News showing citizens being shut out of public comment on the migrant issue, Heigl, who was front and center at the meeting, said he didn’t see what the media saw that night. He said City Council president Tiffany Nix, who ended the comment portion because she felt people were becoming aggressive, made the rules of the meeting clear before hearing from citizens.
RELATED: 'This is our city!' Sylacauga citizens shut down for questioning influx of Haitian migrants
“Personally, the ground rules were set,” he said Thursday morning on WOTM's “Daybreak” with Jimmy Dale. “I didn't see the meeting on the media how they presented it. I don't know what part they...But [Nix] set ground rules when she opened up the meeting.”
Dale clarified with Heigl that he was at the meeting.
“Yes, and the president of the council set ground rules,” Heigl repeated. “Now, we've got several groups in here. I'd like to have one person from each group come up and speak to us.”
“ …And then next thing you know, it just got louder and louder,” he continued. “And I guess she just got frustrated and it's time to shut it down. But I wouldn't answer anybody. They could ask me questions. I'm sorry, I'm just here to let you express your opinion. I'll just sit back and let them express their opinion."
The mayor admitted it is frustrating not to get answers, but he said "keyboard warriors" on social media are operating out of ignorance.
“I can understand their frustrations,” he said. “But it's out of ignorance and not knowing and we need to know. That's the reason. All this wouldn't happen if we just had the facts ahead of time.”
Heigl previously called the migrants “model citizens” and said they should be welcomed into the city because they are not causing any problems. However, Heigl said he became aware of the Haitians in town when the city’s nuisance and abatement officer had to respond to ask them to clean up what he called “a mess.”
He said he tried to find out how the Haitians got to Sylacauga, but he was not given answers by the federal government. He initially told 1819 News that Gov. Kay Ivey's office and others from Alabama's delegation told him the migrants were in town legally for employment. However, he backtracked on that claim after Ivey's office denied anyone from the office spoke to the mayor.
Now, Heigl said he hopes to get feedback to find out if they are working and if so, where. That could happen, he said, during a public on September 24 with State Sen. Keith Kelley (R-Anniston), State Sen. Lance Bell (R-Pell City) and State Rep. Ben Robbins (R-Sylacauga).
Robbins sent a letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding answers. However, Heigl suggested Robbins sent the letter to the wrong person because Mayorkas had been impeached.
“Actually who he sent it to has been impeached,” said Heigl. “So, they got another one over at Homeland Security up there now, you know. It's frustrating, it really is.”
Mayorkas is currently the Secretary of Homeland Security. He was impeached by the House in February, but the Senate voted to dismiss the impeachment in April.
Heigl also said there are Nicaraguans in the area doing some type of agricultural work and he hopes to find out more about those migrants as well.
Heigl said despite calls for him to resign, he plans to seek another term and he believes the issue will “blow over.”
“A lot of people don't like what I'm doing,” he said. “They think I need to step down … But I have no intention of stepping down from anything.”
The public meeting will be held at the Isabel Anderson Comer Museum and Art Center at 6 p.m. Members of the public will be given a chance to speak.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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