Trump Administration Sues Connecticut Over Sanctuary Policies
The Trump administration has taken legal action against the state of Connecticut and the city of New Haven, challenging their sanctuary policies that aim to protect undocumented immigrants. This brings the total number of such lawsuits to 16.
In the most recent lawsuit, filed on Monday, the Justice Department contended that Connecticut’s “trust law” and New Haven’s “Welcoming City” executive order provide a “safe haven” for criminal immigrants, allowing them to escape federal immigration enforcement. This, they argue, undermines U.S. law.
The administration claims that local governments are hindering federal enforcement by not sharing information. They express concerns that this lack of cooperation is forcing local law enforcement to release individuals who might pose risks to the community. The federal suit highlights that since 2020, only 20% of immigration detainees have been honored in Connecticut.
Furthermore, state Attorney General William Tong’s new immigration policies, effective from March 26, require local entities to share only information mandated by law, treating ICE detainer requests as merely requests. The lawsuit asserts that these practices hinder federal enforcement.
The executive order from New Haven’s Mayor Justin Elicker, established in 2020, has also been labeled as a barrier to federal immigration law enforcement.
The Justice Department is seeking a judge’s ruling to nullify both the state’s and the city’s policies, claiming they violate national law and asking that they cease these protective measures.
“Communities in Connecticut have been paying the price for these misguided protection policies for years,” stated Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Shumate. “This lawsuit aims to put an end to this blatant defiance of federal law.”
The Justice Department has previously filed 15 similar lawsuits against various states and cities, including major metropolitan areas like Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, and New York City, although the progress of these cases has seemed stalled.
In response, Mayor Elicker criticized the lawsuit as “false” and “misleading” regarding New Haven’s immigration policies. He emphasized the city’s adherence to all relevant laws and suggested that the Trump administration is specifically targeting them due to his vocal opposition to their immigration stance. He noted that not all immigrants are involved in criminal activity, highlighting their role as responsible community members.
“We plan to contest this lawsuit vigorously, and we believe we stand on solid legal ground,” the mayor added.
The Connecticut Attorney General’s Office has not yet commented on this matter.
