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Advocates Protest ICE Action At Connecticut Courthouses

Frankie Graziano
/
Connecticut Public Radio
Trash cans are placed outside the state Supreme Court as part of a protest against ICE action at courthouses in the state.

Advocates for undocumented immigrants want federal law enforcement to stay out of state courthouses. Members of the Connecticut Immigrant Rights Alliance and several others protested Monday on the steps of the state Supreme Court. 

They demanded that administrators bar federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from state courthouses -- unless ICE officers have a warrant.

“We feel like -- as the keepers of institutions of justice in our state -- they should step up to make these institutions safe for all residents,” said Alok Bhatt, CIRA’s community defense coordinator.

 
“They shouldn’t allow them to become stalking grounds or basically grounds for overzealous, aggressive law enforcement to take place.”

The office of the state’s chief court administrator told Connecticut Public Radio that while the state’s chief justice has asked the federal government to keep ICE from arresting people in state courthouses, the branch can’t ban anyone from courthouses because they are open to the public.

In a statement, Patrick Carroll points out that former Chief Justice Chase Rogers and incumbent Richard Robinson have petitioned the Department of Justice to stop ICE from conducting enforcement activities in Connecticut courthouses.

“The facts are clear: the Judicial Branch has sought the exact same thing that CIRA is seeking -- no ICE enforcement activity in the courts,” the statement says. “We have trained -- and will continue to train -- our judicial marshals on the comprehensive requirements of Connecticut’s Trust Act and also continue to assure compliance with the provisions of that law.”

Credit Frankie Graziano / Connecticut Public Radio
/
Connecticut Public Radio
CIRA's Alok Bhatt (right)

Undocumented immigrants have some level of protection in state courts. Because of measures taken last year to strengthen the Connecticut Trust Act, judicial marshals aren’t allowed to facilitate ICE action unless a warrant is presented.

Frankie Graziano is the host of 'The Wheelhouse,' focusing on how local and national politics impact the people of Connecticut.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.