ICE Agents In Schools: Here's What Is Allowed, What Isn't Permitted In CT

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont joined superintendents from Greater Hartford schools Wednesday to reassure families that students remain safe in Connecticut classrooms despite heightened national debate over immigration enforcement.

Speaking alongside local education leaders, Lamont said the state has issued clear guidance to schools, emphasizing that immigration officers cannot enter without a judicial warrant. He said the aim is to give parents confidence that their children can learn in a secure environment.

“There’s a lot of noise in the media, a lot of fear out there in terms of, ‘Am I safe bringing my child to school?’ And the answer is yes,” Lamont said. “We are doing everything we can to make sure your child is safe, and to make sure you feel that they are safe.”

See Also: Connecticut Bans Warrantless ICE Arrests, Masked Agents In State Courthouses

Superintendents from East Hartford, New Britain, Hartford and Putnam highlighted steps schools are taking to inform families about their rights and to provide resources such as family preparedness plans. They said the goal is to ensure children feel safe and supported, regardless of their background or immigration status.

Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director of Connecticut Students for a Dream, said undocumented students often live with fear and uncertainty, and praised the state for providing guidance that helps schools and families navigate enforcement concerns.

Deputy Commissioner Brenda Bergeron of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection outlined the state’s ongoing investment in school safety, including more than $93 million in security upgrades since 2013. Officials also introduced Terron Jones as the state’s first school security preparedness coordinator.

Lamont said the measures reflect Connecticut’s commitment to keeping schools and courthouses safe for all residents. “We're trying to remind parents that their kids can come to school safely” he said.

Preparedness, or Fear-Mongering?

The gathered superintendents acknowledged there have been no recent immigration enforcement incidents in schools, but said parents are asking questions, making communication a priority. “Preparedness should not be about fear, but strength and protection,” East Hartford Superintendent Thomas Anderson said.

But in a statement issued later that afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding said, "To my knowledge, ICE is not conducting sweeping raids of schools … When asked by the media, Gov. Lamont and the participants at today’s press conference offered zero examples of ICE doing this and admitted that ICE hasn’t done this."

Read more:

• Embattled Ex-Embalmer Charged With 22 Counts Of Selling Funeral Services With Intent To Defraud: Police
• 13-Year-Old Dies, ‘Heartbroken’ Police Department Confirms
• Child, 10, Hospitalized After Dog Bite

House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora said Lamont's "what if" scenarios about ICE in schools were creating unnecessary anxiety among families.

"Instead of stoking fears with worst-case scenarios and teaching people how to navigate ICE encounters, Connecticut Democrats should pressure our federal delegation—from Senator Murphy to Congresswoman Hayes—to actually fix our broken immigration system. So far, they've all failed to deliver meaningful reform."