Are Cops De Facto Agents Of ICE? Not In New Haven, Says Police Chief

NEW HAVEN, CT — Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the 287(g) program authorizes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate certain immigration enforcement powers to state and local law enforcement agencies, operating under ICE supervision. Through this program, participating police departments can identify and initiate removal proceedings against noncitizens involved in criminal activity.

The New Haven Police Department does not participate in the program with ICE, Chief of Police Karl Jacobson told Patch in a recent interview.

"We don’t do that," Jacobson said. "Not only does the city have a policy under the Welcoming Act, but so does NHPD ...since 2007."

New Haven follows a "Welcoming City" policy, enacted via executive order in June 2020. It was designed to make all residents—regardless of immigration status—feel safe and supported. This policy is primarily implemented through an Executive Order that bars city employees, including police officers, from asking about a person's immigration status unless mandated by state or federal law.
The city police department does have a task force officer with the Department of Homeland Security, Jacobson said, but that officer, “only works child porn and child trafficking cases.”

"In its agreement with us, DHS wrote the officer will not work on deportation,” he said. “They put that in for us."

Additionally, Jacobson said, the state's Police Officer Standards and Training Council follows and instructs on the Connecticut Trust Act.

"POST doesn’t encourage that type of cooperation," Jacobson said. "But, obviously, if ICE comes forward with a judicial warrant we will help as needed. But only with that warrant that's signed by a judge."

Read the full policy here.

During the Obama Administration, the state’s Trust Act of 2013 was enacted to restrict the level of cooperation between local police departments and federal immigration authorities. The law generally prohibits local law enforcement from holding individuals based solely on federal immigration detainers—requests to detain someone for up to 48 hours so ICE can take custody.

Compliance with such detainers requires a judicial warrant. Exceptions to this rule include cases where the individual is on a terrorist watch list or has been convicted of a Class A or B felony. The Act also limits the sharing of information with ICE and requires law enforcement to notify individuals when ICE has requested their detention. It was expanded upon in legislation in 2025, with a vote spilt right down party lines. As opposed to the Obama-era law, which was passed by unanimous vote.

That’s the city’s policy, too, Mayor Justin Elicker told Patch recently. Albeit the city doesn’t provide assistance, Elicker pointed out that, “With a warrant signed by a judge to take a person into custody, the city’s hands are tied.”

Police take it one step further.

"We don’t collaborate, but at the same time, we don’t obstruct,” Jacobson said. “We’re not going to interfere with ICE doing their job. But we’re also not going to help them.”

New Haven’s top cop said that in working with the immigrant community, the department’s policies and procedures are created to build trust through engagement, outreach, and working directly with immigrant advocacy groups. "We work with a lot of the organizations that help the immigrant population," Jacobson said.

In a recent meeting with an advocacy group, police shared, "How we operate and what our policies are."

"We were just recently talking about this. We grew up with community policing. That type of policing came in 2007, and anyone who came then or after was taught that. We need people to come forward -- witnesses and victims. But if they’re afraid you’re going to check their immigration status, they are not going to come forward. I think that’s the cornerstone. Just not checking immigration status, right," he asked rhetorically.

"We want that trust with the community. We want that bond with the community. Especially with crime victims. Some of our immigrant population used to not cooperate with police, but that’s changing," the police chief said. "It works here. I’ve seen it. People in the immigrant community do (cooperate with police) here a lot more than in other places. It’s that trust. We have to work together. And we do. It works here."

Jacobson said it’s policy for officers to be trained on how to handle interactions with immigrant communities. But, what happens in the event of an ICE operation with armed agents, often masked and not wearing badges or identification, taking a person off the streets, or “disappearing” people they’ve identified as being deportation targets,

In early June, a New Haven mother preparing to drive her kids to school was "disappeared" off the street by ski-mask-wearing ICE agents. At the time, Elicker reiterated the city's commitment to "stand up for our residents and our values."

Nancy Martinez and her two children,13 and 8, had just gotten into their car when unmarked vehicles boxed her in and masked agents took her out of the car, placed her in handcuffs, and put her into a black SUV. In the YouTube video, a child’s voice cries out, "Mommy, mommy!"

In an immediate statement, Elicker denounced the action.

"We condemn this deplorable act of family separation and call upon the Trump Administration to stop its inhumane approach and cruel tactics that are disappearing people without due process and traumatizing our children and communities."

At recent protests, including perhaps the largest, the No Kings protest against the Trump Administration that drew thousands to the Green and the streets of downtown, a reporter was interviewing police when two people approached and offered officers flowers.

"So even working with people during a protest, they work with us really well. It’s easier to police and keep everybody safe if we all keep an open line of communication. It’s all about a great culture of community policing."

And that is the principle, Jacobson said, that informs the department’s policy.

Read more: With Mother Disappeared By ICE, Escalated Deportations Coming, Mayor Weighs In