90 Organizations call for Stronger Trust Act

 

In response to the ramped up seizing and detention of immigrants without due process, 90 labor, community and faith organizations have called upon the Governor and Legislative leaders to hold a special session and strenthen protections to the Trust Act. Excerpts follow:

“We write on behalf of 90 Connecticut organizations committed to immigrant rights, civil rights, human rights, gender rights, workers rights, and racial justice to express urgency and demand that Governor Lamont and Legislative Leadership take action to protect our immigrant communities during the upcoming special session.”

“Armed and masked ICE agents are terrorizing our communities — abducting parents in front of their children, targeting workers, and tearing students from their futures. These actions violate the dignity, safety, and basic rights of our neighbors. This is a campaign of fear, and it has no place in our state.

“Our Call to Action

Immediate and urgent action is needed to prevent our state and local resources from being used to advance the federal government's cruel mass deportation agenda.

● Protect the Personal Information of our immigrant community and all CT residents.

● Prohibit ICE arrests at courthouses, including travel to and from the courthouse, and empower judges to enforce this rule. Provide the option for remote appearances.

● Preserve HUSKY Medicaid for undocumented children and pregnant individuals:

● Make our Communities Safer:

○ Prohibit Connecticut’s National Guard from participating in federal immigration enforcement and prevent out-of-state militias from conducting immigration-related operations within the state.

○ Prevent Local Law Enforcement from Assisting ICE:

“Safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP are being cut to subsidize the tripling of the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and tax breaks to the ultra wealthy. As a result, all working families will struggle more than ever to make ends meet, including undocumented immigrant families. We cannot let Connecticut be complicit. Connecticut must be a safe and welcoming place for all of us, regardless of immigration status.
“We will remember who was silent and complicit in fascism and who stood on the right side of history to confront it.”