By State Representative Greg Howard

January 27, 2025

Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government. State and local law enforcement have neither the budgets nor the resources to act as an arm of ICE in the realm of immigration enforcement. However, as Connecticut law enforcement officers go about their daily duties of enforcing Connecticut laws, they often communicate with agencies from other states and federal authorities in their shared goal of enforcing laws in their respective jurisdictions.

For example, assume you live in Stonington and your house is burglarized by a man in a green Honda wearing a pink hoodie. When the Stonington police arrive, they tell you that over the last week several Stonington houses have been burglarized and their Ring Cameras captured the same man and vehicle.  Later you learn that the Westerly, RI Police just arrested a burglary suspect wearing a pink hoodie and driving a green Honda. You call the officer investigating your burglary who says the Westerly Police won’t let him interview the suspect and won’t share any information to help with your case because RI Police do not enforce Connecticut law, so they are legally barred from cooperating. Does that make sense? Would you be frustrated?

The CT Trust Act does just that.  It prohibits Connecticut Law Enforcement from cooperating with federal authorities attempting to enforce immigration laws except under very narrow circumstances such as if the person is convicted of a Class A or B felony. The Republican proposal simply seeks to add Class C felonies to that list, and to allow cooperation when a suspect is arrested for the state crime, as opposed to waiting until he is convicted.

Democrats’ claim that such cooperation would be a “due process” violation is unjustified fearmongering. There is nothing in the Republican proposal that limits a suspect’s due process rights to fight deportation. Local law enforcement reporting a suspected violation of federal law to federal law enforcement is in no way a violation of due process. It is standard operating practice for local police to work with federal authorities on issues like counterfeiting, smuggling, international terrorism, human trafficking, etc. And under Connecticut law, for example, someone arrested but not yet convicted for domestic violence can be prohibited from possessing firearms or even be incarcerated pending trial. If due process is not a concern when stripping American citizens of their constitutional rights pre-conviction, then how is it a concern when simply notifying federal authorities about a suspected federal crime by a non-citizen?

Preventing state and local law enforcement already pursuing state violations, from cooperating with federal authorities pursuing federal violations, is irresponsible.  Under the Republican proposal, Connecticut police would not stop, investigate, or otherwise detain anyone simply to check their immigration status.

The US is a nation of immigrants, and anyone coming here to better their lives or the lives of their families should be welcomed and provided the most expedient legal route to citizenship.  However, those who illegally come here from other countries to commit violent crimes and to victimize law-abiding Connecticut residents, should not be harbored, sheltered, or otherwise protected from federal immigration authorities. The Republican proposal would protect Connecticut residents from the violent felons the Democrats seek to coddle.