As federal immigration agents employ the Trump-era tactic of staking out courthouses seeking to seize immigrants and deport them, the Connecticut Judiciary Branch is setting rules for their conduct while on site.
When at state courthouses, ICE agents will be required to be mask-free and won’t be able to make warrantless arrests.
Chief Justice Raheem Mullins, who is responsible for administration of the state courts, made the announcement at a Tuesday morning state Capitol press conference, alongside two top Democrats, Gov. Ned Lamont and state Rep. Steve Stafstrom, House chair of the Judiciary Committee.
Mullins said, “The safety and security of our courthouses… is my top priority. Judges, staff, litigants, members of the public—they all must be able to conduct their business in our courthouses without fear of disruption.”
There have been recent arrests made by masked ICE agents at Stamford and Danbury courthouses.
On the mask rule, Lamont said, “It’s intimidating. We want to be able to identify people (who) are there, so that people are safe and we know who’s in the courthouse.”
“It’s very important that immigrants—even undocumented immigrants—feel safe going into our courthouses.”
“You should be able to enter a courthouse in this state free of fear that when you try to achieve justice, a masked, unmarked individual is going to grab you and pull you out of the courthouse based on your perceived immigration status,” said Stafstrom, who would like to see the new guidelines become state law.
The new policy was developed in consultation with the Judiciary Branch, the governor’s office and Democratic legislators, and with ICE itself. A Republican member of the Judiciary Committee says Republicans were not consulted:
“Contrary to today’s announcement,” said Rep. Craig Fishbein, “making it more difficult for law enforcement officers to apprehend wanted individuals actually endangers public safety, including for the very men and women who work in these courthouses that these changes are supposed to protect.”
Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding (R) said the new guidelines highlight “multiple glaring issues,” including his claim that, “Many Connecticut Democrats believe there should be no immigration law enforcement in our state. They want to keep criminal illegal aliens on our streets, on our dime.”
A number of immigrant advocacy organizations joined to welcome the new state guidelines for ICE agents, but asked the governor and lawmakers to do more to protect immigrants.
“Mask bans and judicial warrant requirements are a good start, but Connecticut must go further,” said Norma Martinez HoSang, director of Connecticut for All. “We need laws that end courthouse arrests and prevent state and local resources from fueling federal deportation fear campaigns.”
“While this policy represents progress, it is only one measure toward ensuring that immigrants in Connecticut can navigate our courts and communities with safety and dignity,” said Chelsea-Infinity Gonzalez, public policy and advocacy director for the CT ACLU.