Senator Paul Honig, D-Harwinton, voted Tuesday to pass common sense updates to Connecticut’s Trust Act including provisions to expand the list of convictions that allow state law enforcement officials to honor federal immigration detainers.
The bill, H.B. 7259, passed the Senate on a 25-11 vote, sending the legislation to Gov. Ned Lamont for consideration.
The legislation adds more than a dozen serious offenses including sexual assault, child exploitation, and other violent crimes, to the list of convictions for which cooperation with federal immigration authorities is permitted. Current law allows coordination only in cases involving Class A or B felonies, individuals included in the federal Terrorist Screening Database, or in cases involving a judicial arrest warrant.
“While Connecticut’s law enforcement agencies should not be spending their time and resources enforcing federal laws, common sense tells us we should not be extending immigration protections to people convicted of crimes like sexual assault and felony child abuse,” Senator Honig said. “This legislation strikes a balance between defending civil liberties and ensuring we’re not protecting bad actors, who should be off our streets regardless of their immigration status.”
The bill also strengthens enforcement of the Trust Act by creating a new legal avenue for people to seek relief if their rights are violated by local officials like police or school security officers. Under the bill, impacted residents can seek relief through avenues like court injunctions but can not seek monetary damages.
The legislation also expands the list of covered state actors to include state’s attorneys and members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, ensuring broader compliance and accountability under the law.
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