NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Sixty-five undocumented immigrants in Connecticut were detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over a four-day period last week, according to a press release.
The apprehensions were targeting transnational organized crime, gangs and egregious sex offenders, according to ICE.
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Among those detained, 29 individuals had been convicted or charged with crimes in the United States, including kidnapping, assault, drug offenses, weapons violations and sex crimes, ICE said, and others were identified as members of transnational gangs or had criminal histories in their native countries.
The operation was named “Operation Broken Trust” and was a collaboration between ICE Boston’s Hartford field office, the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
In May, the Connecticut Trust Act, which limits the cooperation of state and local law enforcement agencies with ICE, was expanded, according to the release.
“Sanctuary legislation like Connecticut’s Trust Act only endangers the communities it claims to protect,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde said. “Such laws only force law enforcement professionals to release criminal alien offenders back into the very communities they have already victimized. The state of Connecticut is a safer place thanks to the hard work and determination of the men and women of ICE and our federal partners. Working together, we were able to arrest 65 illegal aliens in just four days throughout Connecticut, many of whom had significant criminality in the United States.”
The press release includes several of those detained by ICE. Read the full release here.
State Senate Minority Leader Sen. Steve Harding and Senior Deputy Republican Leader Sen. Rob Sampson released this statement regarding the detainments.
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“Good. This is excellent news. Connecticut’s streets are now safer. Violent offenders are now in custody.
The federal government clearly has taken note of Connecticut’s super-sanctuary policies, even though Gov. Lamont and Democrats really, really don’t want the term ‘sanctuary state’ applied to our state.
The federal government clearly has taken note that Connecticut law under Democrat one-party rule prohibits local and state law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities – including for those who have been convicted for violent felonies. Some examples:
Some examples:
Contamination of water supply or food supply for terrorist purposes
Damage to public transportation property for terrorist purposes
Strangulation
Assault of an elderly/blind or disabled person in the second degree with a firearm
So we thank ICE and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi for their focus on Connecticut and their diligence in making Connecticut’s streets safer.
Connecticut Republicans will continue to stand for law and order, and we will continue to stand with victims of violent crime.”
Congressman Jim Himes (D-4th District) released the following statement regarding the arrests:
“Since taking office, Donald Trump has launched a disgusting attack against immigrants in this country. Entirely contemptuous of legal precedent, his administration is more focused on instilling fear than on effectively decreasing crime. Masked ICE agents are targeting schools and churches, dragging people, including legal residents, off the street, and throwing them into inhumane detention centers without recourse. This is the behavior of an authoritarian, not a democratically elected leader.
“We will not allow MAGA to dehumanize members of our community based on their skin color or ethnicity. A person’s legal status does not negate their right to due process in the United States, and I will keep fighting alongside state local leaders to uphold the rights and civil liberties of all of Connecticut’s residents.”
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