Homeland Security puts Connecticut on list of jurisdictions that ‘undermine the rule of law’

NEW HAVEN, CT (WFSB) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security put Connecticut on a list of jurisdictions it claims are obstructing immigration laws.

It published a list of states and their municipalities that it said have been defying federal immigration law.

The list said Connecticut self-identified as a state sanctuary jurisdiction.

It specifically listed the cities of East Haven, Hamden, Hartford, New Haven, New London, and Windham.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont took exception with the DHS classification.

Lamont said the agency falsely labeled Connecticut as a state sanctuary.

He released a statement on Friday afternoon.

The DHS demanded that the jurisdictions revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws and “renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens.”

“No mater what you look like, what your background is, what your economic status is, whether you’re undocumented or not, we welcome you as part of our community,” said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.

He said that the elm city will not back down from being a “welcoming city.”

Police Chief Karl Jacobson said that they’ve had the same policy in place since 2017 saying that they won’t ask people for their immigration status and will only assist federal law enforcement if they have a warrant signed by a judge.

“We will not be bullied by a federal administration that clearly does not understand how the law works,” said Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett in a statement to Eyewitness News.

According to the department, several factors determined the list, including compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions and legal protection for illegal aliens.

Attorney General William Tong added that during the first Trump administration, Connecticut was found to be in compliance with the law.

“Nothing has changed to alter that certification, other than Trump’s unhinged fixation on defunding and commandeering our police,” he said in part in a statement.

“In no way is New Haven obstructing justice, but we will not be forced, we will not be forced to implement immigration policies which is the federal government’s job,” continued Elicker.

John Lugo with Unidad Latina En Accion feels that the city being listed could make it a target.

“We have been doing a lot of work in the community, organizing, preparing for this kind or announcement, future attacks on the community,” he said.

New Haven joined a lawsuit with 16 other cities and counties in which so called sanctuary and welcoming cities could have their funding pulled. A temporary injunction has blocked that from happening.

While New Haven expected the announcement, East Haven was blindsided.

They said that it has been inaccurately put on the list and they disagree with the designation.

“The classification issued by the Department of Homeland Security is not only absurd—it is baseless," said East Haven Mayor Joe Carfora in a statement.

They feel that they are on the list from a 2012 decree with the Obama era justice department and the steps it had to take following an investigation into how the police department targeted certain groups, violating their civil rights.

Carfora says that its inclusion is misleading and irresponsible.

“My administration is actively following up with DHS to demand clarification and to understand how such an unfounded statement was made without any consultation or communication with our office. We will not allow East Haven to be mischaracterized without accountability,” he continued.

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