ICE Sting Nets 65 During 4-Day Operation In CT: Feds

CONNECTICUT — Federal immigration officials say they have apprehended 65 undocumented immigrant offenders throughout Connecticut during a four-day enforcement effort.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the arrests on Wednesday.

The effort, called “Operation Broken Trust,” targeted transnational organized crime, gangs, and egregious offenders, according to ICE.

ICE Boston’s Hartford field office joined forces with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the operation.

Patricia H. Hyde, acting field office director for ICE’s Boston office, characterized those targeted by the sting as dangerous criminals.

“Make no mistake: Every person that we arrested are criminals and breaking federal law, but many of these individuals also victimized innocent people and traumatized communities — rapists, drug traffickers, child sex predators and members of violent transnational criminal gangs,” Hyde said. “They all made the mistake of attempting to subvert justice by hiding out in Connecticut.”

Of those arrested, ICE said 29 have been convicted or charged in the U.S. with serious crimes, such as kidnapping, assault, drug offenses, weapons violations, and sex crimes. Others were identified as members of transnational gangs or had criminal histories in their native countries, according to ICE.

ICE said the agency and its federal law enforcement partners also pursued targets who are the subject of foreign arrest warrants and Interpol notices, who are wanted by authorities in other countries.

The individuals are from a variety of countries, such as Ecuador, El Salvador, Venezuela, Guatemala, India, and Peru, according to ICE.

The 65 people detained during the operation will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of removal proceedings or their deportation from the U.S., ICE officials said.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said after the ICE operation, “Violent criminals should be arrested, prosecuted, and where appropriate, deported.”

“The Office of the Attorney General cannot independently verify any of the selective information provided by ICE regarding its actions in Connecticut,” he added.

Read more: 'Armed, Dangerous Suspect' Captured In Connecticut, Police Say

ICE asserted in its announcement, which is titled “Connecticut is a sanctuary no more,” that the Connecticut Trust Act limits and restricts cooperation of state and local law enforcement with ICE.

“As a result state and local law enforcement agencies will refuse to honor ICE detainers with a few rare exceptions,” the ICE announcement states.

On Wednesday, Tong said, “The Trump Administration is once again promoting disinformation regarding the Connecticut Trust Act, which reflects the unremarkable proposition that immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government, not state and local police.”

On Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont had issued a statement in response to a letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to Tong’s office, which Lamont said “erroneously” identified Connecticut as a “sanctuary jurisdiction.”

“The top priority of local and state law enforcement needs to be public safety and getting those who commit serious crimes off our streets. Kids should feel safe going to school, and people should feel safe in their neighborhoods and going to work,” Lamont said.

According to Lamont, the Connecticut Trust Act prioritizes public safety, and it was adopted with bipartisan support and the Trump administration previously certified that it is in compliance with federal policies.

“Requiring law enforcement officials to prioritize public safety in no way makes a state a ‘sanctuary.’ We prioritize public safety work with all agencies – federal, state, and local – to keep dangerous criminals off the street,” Lamont added.

State Sen. Stephen Harding and State Sen. Rob Sampson, both Republicans, issued a joint statement on the operation, thanking ICE.

"Good. This is excellent news. Connecticut’s streets are now safer. Violent offenders are now in custody,” the senators said.

“The federal government clearly has taken note of Connecticut’s super-sanctuary policies, even though Gov. Lamont and Democrats really, really don’t want the term ‘sanctuary state’ applied to our state,” they said. “Connecticut Republicans will continue to stand for law and order, and we will continue to stand with victims of violent crime.”