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CT lawmakers vote to expand immigrant protections amid Trump deportation campaign
CT lawmakers vote to expand immigrant protections amid Trump deportation campaign

Yahoo

time21-05-2025

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

CT lawmakers vote to expand immigrant protections amid Trump deportation campaign

With federal agents arresting immigrants nationwide on a constant basis, Connecticut lawmakers voted Wednesday to strengthen the current law to maintain the independence of state and municipal police. The controversial Connecticut Trust Act blocks local police from making an arrest that is based only on a request by federal agents in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. After five hours of debate, the state House of Representatives voted 96 to 51 on largely party lines to expand the existing Trust Act. The only three House Democrats to vote with the Republicans and against the bill were Rep. Chris Poulos of Southington, Rep. Patrick Boyd of Pomfret, and Rep. Michael DiGiovancarlo, a law-and-order lawmaker with a longtime background as a police officer in Waterbury. The measure still requires approval by the state Senate, which is controlled 25-11 by Democrats. Gov. Ned Lamont supports the bill, his spokesman said Wednesday. State officials maintain that ICE agents can still do their jobs, while the local police can separately perform their own duties in law enforcement. 'We're not impeding any federal ability to come in and do what they have the right to do by law, but we're putting protections on it,' said House Speaker Matt Ritter, a Hartford Democrat. 'Do I think people should be going into courtrooms and grabbing people? No. That's not fair to the judges. It's not fair to the individuals, the prosecutors, the jurors. That's not what a courthouse is for. When you walk down the courthouse steps, that's a different ballgame — and that's federal law that governs that.' Ritter added, 'The parameters we can set are, to the extent that the state has control over state employees or judicial employees, we can limit what information they share on a voluntary basis. They can't call up ICE and say, 'Someone was jaywalking. We have them, and I believe they are here undocumented.' What we can't do is tell ICE that they don't have the right to come into anywhere in the state, unfortunately, and do what they have to do.' But Republicans blasted the bill, saying that Democrats were taking the existing law and making it worse. State Rep. Craig Fishbein, the ranking House Republican on the legislature's judiciary committee, criticized the bill on multiple levels. 'I think our federal officials should know what is going on today,' Fishbein said, adding that the legislature is 'not only violating the Constitution, but it is doubling down.' He added, 'It is giving more rights to illegal aliens than lawful citizens. … That is very troubling.' Among the key issues of contention is the bill would allow those arrested to file civil lawsuits against municipalities for injunctive relief and declaratory judgements. In addition, if they won their case, they would be entitled to legal fees. Democrats strongly defended the expansion of the current law, saying it would help those who have been wronged. 'They may have already been deported,' said Rep. Steve Stafstrom, a Bridgeport attorney who co-chairs the judiciary committee. 'They may have already suffered some harm.' Unlike the underlying bill, a Republican amendment called for either side to receive attorney's fees, depending if they won the case. In addition, lawmakers said that those filing the lawsuits could 'jump the line' and have their cases heard more quickly as they would be given higher priority. The Republican amendment on attorney's fees failed on a party line vote of 97-48 with six members absent. Rep. Doug Dubitsky, a Republican attorney, condemned the legislation in its entirety. 'The Trust Act is a travesty. It is an insult to the people of this state,' Dubitsky said. 'The very purpose of the Trust Act is to prevent criminals from being taken and arrested by federal law enforcement for federal crimes. … We don't want them here. We don't want them in our cities. We want them caught, and we want them to be deported. Why would we want to make it harder for federal law enforcement to do just that?' Dubitsky added, 'The entire Trust Act should be balled up into a little ball and thrown into the garbage. … I support the amendment, and I hate the Trust Act.' Republicans charged that the bill lowered the penalties for failing to appear in court on a first offense, but Democrats said it was related to relatively minor incidents. 'It's dealing with misdemeanor charges,' said Stafstrom. 'Maybe someone got sick in the family or maybe they forgot they had a court date that day.' Later, Stafstrom said that due process rights are highly important, citing key differences between criminals who are convicted and those whose charges are still pending. 'Those who are merely accused are treated different,' Stafstrom said. In his wrap-up remarks, House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, an East Hartford Democrat, said the bill was needed 'to protect the dignity of individuals' living in Connecticut. 'They are our neighbors,' Rojas told his House colleagues. 'Their children sit next to our children, right across the river in East Hartford and Manchester. .. These people are humans. We should reject referring to them as illegal. … There are legitimate concerns that have been raised about crime. … Immigrants commit crimes less frequently than the general population. I would prefer that our federal government do their job and fix our broken immigration system.' After more than four hours of debate, state Rep. Farley Santos stood up on the House floor and said that he is likely the only formerly undocumented person currently serving in the legislature. Born in Brazil, he said that his parents moved to the United States and paid into Social Security throughout their working lives but never collected any money from the program. 'I urge my colleagues to have some compassion,' said Santos, a Danbury Democrat. 'I urge you to have compassion in your heart. The vast majority of immigrants are not doing harm in their community.' Nationally, immigration gained widespread attention last year during the presidential election campaign when President Donald J. Trump promised to target immigrants and deliver widespread deportations. Since taking office, he has issued an executive order that would allow ICE to make arrests in churches and schools, which was traditionally not done in the past. While he initially said deportation efforts would focus on violent criminals, ICE has reportedly targeted legal immigrants, notably those who have protested for Palestinian rights, and undocumented people with no criminal history as well. Lawmakers have been working behind the scenes this year at the state Capitol to upgrade the Trust Act that was originally passed in Connecticut in 2013 on a unanimous basis during the tenure of then-President Barack Obama. About 15 states have similar laws, and Connecticut is generally deemed as liberal on the issue. In the bill, lawmakers listed a series of felony crimes in which local police could communicate with ICE. The immigrant could be detained if they had been convicted of the crimes, including strangulation, possessing child sexual abuse material in the second degree, commercial sexual exploitation of a minor, and criminal violation of a protective order. 'We're trying to strike the right balance,' Stafstrom told his colleagues on the House floor. 'This bill expands the list of exemptions, expands the list on which our state and local police can hold someone.' State Rep. Greg Howard, a Stonington Republican who has worked as a police officer for more than two decades, listed a series of felony crimes that would not be mentioned by local officers to ICE, including stealing a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and damaging public transportation for terrorism purposes. 'We're handicapping our own municipalities with this legislation,' Howard said. 'I don't want criminals in my state. News flash. … I'm not going to apologize for that today or ever. … I don't care what your status is in this country. I don't. … If you get convicted of these felonies, in my experience, you have a limited regard for life. That makes you a danger.' While the House was still debating, Senate Republicans called for Gov. Ned Lamont to veto the bill. 'As ICE is effectively getting violent illegal aliens off of Connecticut's streets, the Democrat-controlled legislature at our state Capitol is seeking to pass a bill shielding them from federal authorities,' said Senate Republican leader Stephen Harding and fellow colleagues. 'That bill is an expansion of the Trust Act, which already limits when law enforcement can work with federal immigration agents.' The Republicans added, 'The governor should publicly announce he will veto it if it hits his desk. Stop projecting weakness and stand up to your party, governor.' Lamont's chief spokesman, Rob Blanchard, said Lamont views the legislation favorably. 'The governor was proud to sign legislation in 2019 that updated the Trust Act and strengthened the relationship between local law enforcement and their communities, without burdening them with the responsibilities of the federal government,' Blanchard said. 'His priority has always been making sure people feel safe in our schools, churches, and elsewhere and that regardless of status, criminals are kept off our streets. The changes under discussion today, which the governor would support, help in that mission.' Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@

CT House approves grants to Planned Parenthood and other groups; takes step toward paying UConn athletes
CT House approves grants to Planned Parenthood and other groups; takes step toward paying UConn athletes

Yahoo

time25-02-2025

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

CT House approves grants to Planned Parenthood and other groups; takes step toward paying UConn athletes

State legislators voted Monday night for supplemental grants to Planned Parenthood and a variety of non-profit organizations that prompted opposition by Republicans in the middle of the fiscal year. By a vote of 94-49 on mostly party lines, the state House of Representatives approved a multi-faceted bill that included various unrelated items, including paving the way for the University of Connecticut to pay their student athletes in the future. The two leaders of the House Democratic moderate caucus – Rep. Kerry Wood of Rocky Hill and Rep. Patrick Boyd of Pomfret – voted with the Republicans against the measure. The overall funding package of $2.8 million, Democrats said, was necessary due to cuts at the federal level from President Donald J. Trump's administration and a lack of funding for immigrants and refugees, along with lesbian and gay organizations. State Rep. Tammy Nuccio of Tolland, the ranking House Republican on the budget committee, asked why the money was being allocated in the middle of the fiscal year that ends on June 30. Traditionally, budgets are set in advance for the entire fiscal year, and the totals traditionally do not change while the year is underway. 'We had a hearing where we just appropriated an additional $500,000 to Planned Parenthood,' Nuccio said on the House floor in Hartford. 'I was assured that the half-a-million would cover that. … We're giving them $800,000 again. Why are we giving Planned Parenthood $800,000 now … that they're going to need to spend in the next three months?' State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, a West Hartford Democrat, responded that Planned Parenthood of Southern New England is currently running a deficit. 'This $800,000 will go toward their overall operating' expenses, Gilchrest said. Earlier Monday, a representative of the Roman Catholic Church called upon legislators to reject the funding. 'Giving more taxpayer money, even one cent, let alone $800,000, to those in the abortion business is truly tragic,' said Chris Healy, executive director of Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference. 'We can only pray for those in power to reject this horrible idea.' Planned Parenthood, Healy said, had also received an additional $3 million at the end of the 2024 legislative session. He said the organization is the largest abortion provider in the state, adding that more than half of the abortions 'are fully funded by state taxpayers under the Medicaid program' for low-income women. The bill is scheduled to be debated Tuesday by the state Senate. Additional grants Besides Planned Parenthood, more than 20 organizations received money in supplemental grants because they either serve immigrants and refugees or provide services for the LGBTQ community. Three of the largest grants will be $387,500 for the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective, Inc. and $225,000 each for the New Haven Gay and Lesbian Community Center and Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. Overall, 20 organizations received the exact same amount at $62,500 as the money was divided evenly. The groups helping immigrants include the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants; Jewish Family Services of Greenwich; Connecticut Immigrant and Refugee Coalition; and Center for Children's Advocacy. Others receiving $62,500 are Anchor Health Initiative Corp.; Middlesex Hospital for a gender clinic; Triangle Community Center; Queer Youth Program of Connecticut; Kids in Crisis; OutCT, Inc.; Bridgeport Pride Center; PFLAG Enfield, Inc.; PEERPRIDE; The World Health Clinicians, Inc.; Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs; Upper Albany Neighborhood Collaborative; City Seed, Inc.; Building One Community Corp.; Havenly, Inc.; and Junta For Progressive Action, Inc. State Rep. Toni Walker, a New Haven Democrat who serves as the longtime co-chairwoman of the budget-writing committee, said the money was being allocated for groups that need the funding. 'We are all here under one roof, and we should all be treated in one way,' Walker said. 'This is a small, incremental help while we try to work out these issues with Washington.' She added, 'Many of those federal dollars are getting interrupted.' Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, a conservative Republican from Wolcott, questioned how the groups were chosen to receive money. Mastrofrancesco questioned why there was no budget committee vote, which is not necessary under the categorization of an 'emergency certified bill' that is approved by the top two Democratic leaders of the legislature. She also questioned why money was going to immigrant organizations when others need money, too. 'We have American citizens who can't even afford their electric bill,' Mastrofrancesco said. 'Yet, we are putting funding into a population … LBBTQ that is less than one percent.' 'We were trying to spread it out to as many organizations as possible,' Walker said. 'There were several locations that had lost funding. … They needed some support.' Rep. Jay Case, a Winsted Republican, said there are numerous non-profits around the state that need additional money, including homeless shelters, that were not included in the bill. 'Today, we're coming in to do just certain things,' Case said. UConn sports payments In an unrelated matter in the same bill, lawmakers moved toward paving the way for athletes to be paid in the future at the University of Connecticut. 'The bill removes a prohibition on student athletes receiving NIL compensation as an inducement to attend, enroll in, or continue attending a specific higher education institution or intercollegiate athletic program,' according to a nonpartisan bill summary. 'Instead, it allows a student athlete, including one who has agreed to attend an institution, to earn compensation through an endorsement contract or revenue sharing agreement directly with an institution or an entity acting on its behalf if the institution has a policy allowing it and the student follows the policy.' The NCAA, which oversees college athletics, is expected to permit college athletes to essentially be paid, possibly starting in April. In a fast-changing landscape, UConn asked the legislature to prepare the way for the federal changes, legislators said. Rep. Timothy Ackert, a Coventry Republican, lamented the changes in college sports. 'It has really blown up,' Ackert said on the House floor. 'Now, it's just like pro sports. … It's not a Connecticut issue. It's a federal issue that we are paying college students. What have we done to college sports? We're allowing the college to do this. It's sad that this is where it's gone to.' Courant staff writer Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@

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