CT LAWMAKERS DEBATE PROPOSED CHANGES TO TRUST ACT AMID IMMIGRATION POLICY CLASH
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| Participants at the Trust Act hearing voiced their support for policies that ensure safety and dignity for immigrants in Connecticut. Photo: Boceto Media. |
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Hartford, CT – A proposed bill has sparked controversy as it seeks to amend the state’s Trust Act.
The bill aims to further restrict the information that law enforcement agencies can share with immigration authorities. It also proposes extending these restrictions to all public agencies to ensure local police remain separate from federal immigration enforcement.
Under current Connecticut law, local police cannot detain individuals solely based on their immigration status. Officers must have evidence of a serious crime before taking action, and they are prohibited from handing undocumented individuals over to ICE, even in cases involving severe offenses such as homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, human trafficking, armed robbery, drug trafficking, crimes against minors, and domestic violence.
More than 200 people testified before the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee during a nearly 10-hour hearing. Juan Fonseca, campaign manager for the group Trust Act Now, told Boceto Media that immigrant communities are living in fear.
“Parents are afraid to send their children to school whenever they know ICE is in their neighborhoods. The loss of trust in the police has already begun. We are asking this committee to take action and implement proactive measures to help our communities rebuild that trust in law enforcement.”
Since January, Republican lawmakers in Connecticut have been working on legislation that would allow police to collaborate with federal immigration authorities. On January 23, Republicans held a press conference calling for changes to the Trust Act, led by Representative Greg Howard (R), who insisted that the proposal does not seek to turn local police into ICE agents.
“Our proposal does not turn Connecticut’s local law enforcement into an arm of ICE, going out and arresting people who are here illegally and have committed no other crimes,” Howard said. “We are focused on helping our federal partners, who have limited resources, remove the most dangerous individuals from our communities. The current version of the Trust Act prevents that from happening.”
House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora (R) introduced a bill that would allow local police to transfer undocumented immigrants arrested for hideous crimes, such as murder, sexual assault, armed robbery, drug trafficking, and domestic violence, to ICE.
“One of the issues with criminal immigrants is their ability to flee. And with a bail system that allows violent criminals back on the streets, it’s not just a problem for Connecticut but for the entire nation as these immigrants move around. We saw that issue arise with the murder of Laken Riley,” said Candelora.
Johana Debry, a professor at Sunny Albany, emphasized the broader impact of immigration policies, highlighting the need to consider the communities at the heart of the issue.
“It’s important to remember that in Connecticut and across the nation, about one in four children has a parent who was born abroad. Immigration enforcement doesn’t just affect the undocumented; it also impacts naturalized citizens, legal immigrants, and U.S.-born children.”
State Representative Pat Callaghan (R), a member of the Judiciary Committee and a former law enforcement officer, argued that the Trust Act has made it harder to ensure public safety by limiting cooperation with ICE in cases involving serious crimes.
“I see the Trust Act as doing the opposite. I think it’s a distrust act because we’re trying to help the community by keeping it safe. And it sounds to me that you see it as something that makes your community less safe. Is that the case?”
Tonisha Signore, policy director at She Leads Justice, criticized the growing rhetoric around immigration enforcement.
“We are witnessing a rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric in our society. This rhetoric is dangerous and rooted in hate and misinformation.”
The debate is expected to continue until midnight. The key question remains: Will the proposed changes to the Trust Act find the right balance between public safety for undocumented communities and residents in Connecticut?
Hartford, CT – A proposed bill has sparked controversy as it seeks to amend the state’s Trust Act.
The bill aims to further restrict the information that law enforcement agencies can share with immigration authorities. It also proposes extending these restrictions to all public agencies to ensure local police remain separate from federal immigration enforcement.
Under current Connecticut law, local police cannot detain individuals solely based on their immigration status. Officers must have evidence of a serious crime before taking action, and they are prohibited from handing undocumented individuals over to ICE, even in cases involving severe offenses such as homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, human trafficking, armed robbery, drug trafficking, crimes against minors, and domestic violence.
More than 200 people testified before the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee during a nearly 10-hour hearing. Juan Fonseca, campaign manager for the group Trust Act Now, told Boceto Media that immigrant communities are living in fear.
“Parents are afraid to send their children to school whenever they know ICE is in their neighborhoods. The loss of trust in the police has already begun. We are asking this committee to take action and implement proactive measures to help our communities rebuild that trust in law enforcement.”
Since January, Republican lawmakers in Connecticut have been working on legislation that would allow police to collaborate with federal immigration authorities. On January 23, Republicans held a press conference calling for changes to the Trust Act, led by Representative Greg Howard (R), who insisted that the proposal does not seek to turn local police into ICE agents.
“Our proposal does not turn Connecticut’s local law enforcement into an arm of ICE, going out and arresting people who are here illegally and have committed no other crimes,” Howard said. “We are focused on helping our federal partners, who have limited resources, remove the most dangerous individuals from our communities. The current version of the Trust Act prevents that from happening.”
House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora (R) introduced a bill that would allow local police to transfer undocumented immigrants arrested for hideous crimes, such as murder, sexual assault, armed robbery, drug trafficking, and domestic violence, to ICE.
“One of the issues with criminal immigrants is their ability to flee. And with a bail system that allows violent criminals back on the streets, it’s not just a problem for Connecticut but for the entire nation as these immigrants move around. We saw that issue arise with the murder of Laken Riley,” said Candelora.
Johana Debry, a professor at Sunny Albany, emphasized the broader impact of immigration policies, highlighting the need to consider the communities at the heart of the issue.
“It’s important to remember that in Connecticut and across the nation, about one in four children has a parent who was born abroad. Immigration enforcement doesn’t just affect the undocumented; it also impacts naturalized citizens, legal immigrants, and U.S.-born children.”
State Representative Pat Callaghan (R), a member of the Judiciary Committee and a former law enforcement officer, argued that the Trust Act has made it harder to ensure public safety by limiting cooperation with ICE in cases involving serious crimes.
“I see the Trust Act as doing the opposite. I think it’s a distrust act because we’re trying to help the community by keeping it safe. And it sounds to me that you see it as something that makes your community less safe. Is that the case?”
Tonisha Signore, policy director at She Leads Justice, criticized the growing rhetoric around immigration enforcement.
“We are witnessing a rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric in our society. This rhetoric is dangerous and rooted in hate and misinformation.”
The debate is expected to continue until midnight. The key question remains: Will the proposed changes to the Trust Act find the right balance between public safety for undocumented communities and residents in Connecticut?
CT LAWMAKERS DEBATE PROPOSED CHANGES TO TRUST ACT AMID IMMIGRATION POLICY CLASH
Reviewed by Maricarmen Cajahuaringa
on
March 20, 2025
Rating:
Reviewed by Maricarmen Cajahuaringa
on
March 20, 2025
Rating:
