We watched in horror as masked federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota, many inadequately trained, waged a campaign of fear and intimidation with a reckless disregard for the constitutional rights of the people they encounter. We acted swiftly and forcefully to protect your rights — and ensure this chaos, lawlessness, and violence is never visited upon Connecticut.
The House and Senate just passed Senate Bill 397, the strongest state level protections in the country against abuses by ICE and other federal agencies under the Trump administration. The proposal represents a measured and lawful response to ensure deterrence and accountability for abuses of people’s rights.
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The legislation seeks to strengthen accountability by requiring clear identification from federal agents, restricting enforcement actions in sensitive locations, and creating a pathway for individuals to seek recourse when their constitutional rights are violated.
Specifically, Senate Bill 397 does the following:
- Enables any person the right to sue federal actors who violate their constitutional rights
- Allows federal agents to be prosecuted if they abuse their authority or otherwise violate people’s rights
- Establishes protected spaces, such as hospitals, schools, court houses, places of worship, where federal agents cannot make immigration arrests unless they have a judicial warrant
- Establishes a floor of at least 480 hours of training for law enforcement officers in Connecticut
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I am grateful to Rep. Steve Stafstrom and Sen. Gary Winfield, co-chairs of the Judiciary Committee, who crafted and led passage of this measure. I was proud to support it, co-sponsor it, and co-author some of its privacy protections.
This legislation is not born out of partisan preference. It’s a measured response to protect the people of Connecticut. No one is above the law, and the protection of constitutional rights is not solely within the federal government’s purview.
The legislation now heads to Governor Ned Lamont and will take effect upon his signature. |
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