The United States Justice Department announces a lawsuit against Connecticut, Governor Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong, Chief State's Attorney Patrick Griffin, and Deputy Chief State's Attorney Eliot Prescott over Senate Bill 397, "An Act Concerning Democracy and Government Accountability," also known as the "ICE Bill" that passed in the 2026 Legislative Session and was recently signed into law.
The law prohibits federal officers from wearing facial coverings while detaining suspects, requires federal officers to display their badge and name tag, and links agents to Connecticut's strict use-of-force policies.
The bill was signed into law on May 4, 2026, during a large bill signing ceremony, as Connecticut responded to the crackdown on ICE detentions and activities nationwide under the Trump Administration.
The suit alleges it is illegal to attempt to regulate the federal government and that the law threatens the safety of federal officers through harassment, doxing, and violence.
The challenge was not unexpected locally, as lawmakers have said the State has been prepared to defend the law on Tenth Amendment grounds.
The Tenth Amendment dictates: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Attorney General William Tong, concerning the law: "The state’s actions are both fully lawful and necessary to protect public safety and we will vigorously defend the law."
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a written statement Friday: “Connecticut’s anti-law enforcement policies regulate the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents. These laws cannot stand.”
Similar laws and actions are facing federal challenges in New York, New Jersey, and California.
