Senator McCrory Votes in Support of New Limits on ICE Conduct in Connecticut

HARTFORD – Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford) today joined his Democratic state Senate colleagues in passing Senate Bill 397, legislation that would help reduce in Connecticut some of the horrific human rights and Constitutional abuses already committed by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in cities and towns across America.
The bill creates a pathway, often referred to as a “converse-1983 action,” for Connecticut citizens to sue ICE agents in state court if their Constitutional rights have been violated.
“The communities I represent in Hartford, Bloomfield, and Windsor are home to immigrant families who deserve to live without fear of unlawful detention or abuse,” Senator McCrory said. “When the federal government fails to hold agents accountable for violating people’s Constitutional rights, Connecticut must step in to do exactly that. This vote is about who we are as a state and what we are willing to do to protect the people who call Connecticut home.”

Since May of 2025, federal ICE agents have mounted an unprecedented national fear campaign of attacks on American citizens, including murder, kidnappings, assaults, violations of Constitutional rights, the vilification of all immigrants, and the politicized enforcement of the law.
Senate Bill 397 was first introduced in the Judiciary Committee on March 3 and had its public hearing on March 9, generating nearly 350 pieces of written testimony and 166 speakers during the 12.5-hour public hearing. The bill was widely supported, particularly by religious institutions.
S.B. 397:

• Creates a private right of action in state court to sue federal, state, and local government actors when a person’s Constitutional rights are violated. This so-called “Converse-1983” provision is a term coined in 1987 that will allow court actions not currently available against federal agents.
• Allows the state Attorney General to take swift action to seek an injunction or declaratory relief, and damages, when federal, state, or local government agents are violating a person’s Constitutional rights. With court approval, the Attorney General could acquire a temporary injunction in five days or less for ongoing violations.
• Clarifies that the state Inspector General can investigate and prosecute state, local, and some federal agents for the unauthorized use of deadly force. The bill also gives the IG clear and unrestricted access to a crime scene when law enforcement uses deadly force, or when a person dies from the use of force.
• Prohibits all law enforcement officers, federal, state, and local, from covering their faces, with some exceptions, and requires them to wear a badge or name tag.
• Prohibits law enforcement, federal, state, or local, from arresting someone for a civil offense in a protected area unless there is a judicial warrant. This section takes effect October 1, 2026.
• Eliminates a law enforcement officer’s immunity if they violate a person’s right to record law enforcement while committing assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, abuse of process, or malicious prosecution.
• Prevents law enforcement officers with less than 480 hours of training from becoming police officers in Connecticut. Federal ICE officers receive approximately 376 hours of training.

S.B. 397 also addresses the growing use of automated license plate reader systems (ALPR) to ensure that driver data is handled responsibly. The bill allows ALPRs to be used for plates on a “hot list,” but data cannot be held for more than 21 days without an active criminal investigation. License plate data cannot be used to determine race or ethnicity, any activity protected under the First Amendment, or suspected immigration status, and it protects facilities providing reproductive health care or gender-affirming care from fixed ALPR placement near their locations.

S.B. 397 now heads to the House of Representatives and, if passed, will be sent to Governor Ned Lamont for his signature. Most of its provisions take effect immediately.