The Trump administration has sued the state of Connecticut and its city of New Haven to try to overturn their sanctuary policies protecting illegal migrants — bringing the tally of such cases to 16.
The Department of Justice claimed in its latest case Monday that the Nutmeg State’s “Trust Act” and New Haven’s “Welcoming City” executive order have both given criminal migrants “safe harbor” and allowed them to evade federal immigration enforcement — all undermining US laws.
The state and city have been stonewalling the feds’ enforcement actions by refusing to share information and rarely honoring immigration detainers, forcing local law enforcement “to release criminal alien offenders back into the very communities they have already victimized,” the federal suit alleged.
In fact, since 2020, only 20% of immigration detainers “have been honored in Connecticut,” the suit claimed.
In addition, state Attorney General William Tong’s new policy from March 26 on immigration matters dictates local authorities only “share sensitive information as explicitly required by law” and treat ICE detainer requests as “just that: requests” — all of which prohibits federal enforcement, the suit charged.
A New Haven executive order from Mayor Justin Elicker from 2020 also is “in conflict with and reflects an obstacle to the federal government’s enforcement of immigration laws,” the filing alleged.
As a result, the DOJ wants a judge to invalidate the state and city’s sanctuary policies on the grounds they violate national law and order them to stop carrying out the allegedly harmful stances, the federal government said.
“For years, Connecticut communities have paid the price of these misguided sanctuary policies,” US Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said in a statement. “This lawsuit seeks to end such open defiance of federal law.”
The DOJ has filed 15 other similar civil cases against other states and cities over sanctuary policies, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston and New York City. They are believed to all be still pending.
Elicker told reporters at a press conference that the new suit has “untruths” and is “misleading” about New Haven policies.
“Our employees are abiding both city, state and federal laws,” he claimed.
“It’s not surprising that the Trump administration is targeting us.
“I’ve been a very vocal critic of the Trump administration and their policies particularly around their very aggressive attacks against immigrants who are just trying to make a living here,” the mayor said.
“It’s one thing if the immigrant is doing something that is criminal and violent. Those individuals we hold accountable in the city of New Haven as well. It’s another thing if people are trying to live their lives and be productive members of the community.
“We are going to fight this lawsuit with all we got, and we are very confident that we are on the right side of the law here.”
The Connecticut Attorney General’s Office did not return a Post request for comment.
