Milford wants immigration help

To many Hispanic activists, however, these measures would unfairly target innocent people.

“We are very concerned about the overreaction of the Board of Selectmen,’’ said Franklin Soults, communications director for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition in Boston. “The Ecuadoran community in Milford is by and large law-abiding and contributes to the economy and diversity of the town.’’

Milford has been the scene of several protests calling for increased enforcement of immigration laws since the Aug. 20 death of Matthew Denice, 23, whose motorcycle was allegedly struck by an illegal immigrant from Ecuador. Nicolas Guaman, 34, faces charges including vehicular homicide while under the influence, failure to stop for police, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Denice’s family and their supporters contend Guaman should have been deported previously when he was arrested on assault and other charges in 2008.

Milford’s police chief, Thomas O’Loughlin, said the case was dismissed when witnesses refused to cooperate, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Chuck Jackson said the agency was never notified of the arrest.

This week, Patrick reached out to Denice’s family. They had been critical of the governor’s opposition in June to the federal Secure Communities program, which cross-checks the fingerprints of everyone arrested against federal immigration databases. The program’s main goal is to find and deport serious criminals.

“Governor Patrick has reached out directly to Matthew Denice’s family to express his condolences,’’ said a statement from Alex Goldstein, the governor’s press secretary. “Out of respect for the family and their privacy, any further correspondence or meeting between the governor and the family will be private.’’