You’re undocumented. You witnessed a robbery and reported it to the police. You show up at the court house to testify for the prosecution and as you’re leaving, the court house marshals detain you and hold you for ICE.
This is the sort of thing that was happening in Connecticut before the TRUST Act, which we worked on, was passed in the CT General Assembly in 2013 and then amended in 2019.
The TUST Act places limits on the information that state and local law enforcement can share with ICE, restricting how Connecticut police can cooperate with federal immigration officers and ICE’s aggressive actions in Connecticut.
Just last week a Polish man who had overstayed a legal tourists visa was picked up by ICE as he and his attorney were leaving the New Britain Court House after attempting to adjust his visa.
As reported in the New Britain Progressive, this is Attorney Baron’s account of what happened:
“As I began to reverse out of my parking spot; my car was suddenly blocked by 4 black vehicles. I was instructed to shut off my engine. My car was boxed in on three sides. Several ATF and ICE agents wearing black masks approached my car and removed my client.
Saying that, “If you think it’s not happening in Connecticut,” Baron said, “It’s not just ‘hardened criminals’ they are going after. My client is a Polish gentleman. His violation was overstaying a legal tourist visa.”
“My witnessing the incident is the only reason his family knows why he didn’t come home and they still don’t know where he was taken.”
So much for the Trump administration’s claim that they are going after hardened criminals and terrorist threats.
There will be a new TRUST Act coming before the CT General Assembly in this session. Stay tuned for more information. Want to be involved in passing this legislation? Contact David Vita.
