Trump Administration Claims CT 'Shamefully Obstructing' Federal Immigration Laws

CONNECTICUT — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a list of "sanctuary jurisdictions defying federal immigration law" on Friday, and the State of Connecticut and six of its towns are on it.

Such sanctuary jurisdictions "deliberately and shamefully" obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws, endangering American communities, according to DHS.

Connecticut municipalities in the DHS crosshairs are:

• East Haven
• Hamden
• Hartford
• New Haven
• New London
• Windham

In April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing DHS and the Department of Justice to identify jurisdictions that have been refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

"When local leaders demonize law enforcement and impose legal and political handcuffs that make aggressively enforcing the law impossible, crime thrives and innocent citizens and small business owners suffer," the executive order states.

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CT's top elected officials respond

Gov. Ned Lamont released the following statement regarding the list from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that falsely labels Connecticut as a “self-identified” state sanctuary jurisdiction:

“We want local law enforcement focused on maintaining the safety of our neighborhoods and helping to get those who commit serious crimes off our streets," Lamont said. "Connecticut’s Trust Act, which was originally bipartisan, is consistent with federal constitutional standards and reflects sound public safety priorities. I am focused on making sure people feel safe in our schools, churches, and elsewhere. Nothing about this makes Connecticut a ‘sanctuary’ in any legal or practical sense – it makes our state one that upholds the Constitution, respects the rule of law, and prioritizes the safety and well-being of our communities.”

State Attorney General William Tong said that DHS has got it wrong:

"There is nothing in our laws or statutes that says Connecticut is a ‘sanctuary’ state. We are not. That is a meaningless term. It is the policy of the State of Connecticut to respect, honor and protect immigrants and immigrant families in compliance with the law," Tong said. "Trump’s own administration certified Connecticut’s compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373 in 2017. Nothing has changed to alter that certification, other than Trump’s unhinged fixation on defunding and commandeering our police. We sued the last time Trump attempted to defund our law enforcement, and we are prepared to defend Connecticut funding and public safety."

That stance places the Connecticut State Attorney General's Office squarely in the path of the U.S. Attorney General's Office and DHS, which have been directed to "increase the provision of excess military and national security assets in local jurisdictions to assist State and local law enforcement."

And the Secretary of Defense has just 90 days to "determine how military and national security assets, training, non-lethal capabilities, and personnel can most effectively be utilized to prevent crime," according to the executive order.