Sens. Sampson & Somers Join House GOP to Highlight CT Trust Act Concerns

Watch the press conference here.

Senior Deputy Senate Republican Leader Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott), the leading legislative proponent for eliminating Connecticut’s “Super Sanctuary City” policies, and Senior Deputy Senate Republican Leader Heather Somers (R-Groton), today supported House Republican lawmakers’ call to reverse the disastrous effects of Connecticut’s Trust Act, making it easier for law enforcement officers to communicate with federal immigration officials and detain illegal aliens charged with felony crimes, domestic violence, or terrorism.

“We defy you to find anyone on the street, regardless of political affiliation, who supports shielding violent criminal illegal immigrants from federal authorities. The Trust Act, as introduced in 2013 and 2019, has led to increased crime in our state and sadly created more victims who would not otherwise exist.

“Individuals who are here in our state illegally and seek to do harm to law-abiding citizens should be removed. This is common sense, and poll after poll tells us that Republicans are on the right side of this issue. We commend our House Republican colleagues for the first step to address this serious threat to public safety, and firmly support their effort.

“In Connecticut, we are cognizant of the reality that things rarely change all at once. We will continue to offer bright-lines and bold policies to make Connecticut safe for all residents,” said Senator Sampson and Senator Somers.

The House Republicans’ latest proposal would amend the Trust Act to allow state and local law enforcement agencies to hold an undocumented immigrant pursuant to an ICE detainer request for up to 48 hours, and without a judicial warrant, when such individual has been charged with a Class A, B, or C felony, crime of family violence, or terrorism.

Under current law, only convictions for an A or B felony would trigger a contact with federal authorities.  The House GOP plan would establish that federal contact following an arrest for an A, B, and now a C felony.

C felonies include crimes such as: manslaughter, assault, threatening with intent to cause evacuation of a school or day care, house of religious worship, or religiously-affiliated community center, strangulation or suffocation, sexual assault, enticing a minor, burglary, arson, and more.

Background on the Trust Act and Senator Sampson’s career efforts to solve the problem:

• Public Act 19-20 “An Act Concerning the Trust Act” effectively made Connecticut a “Super Sanctuary State” by prohibiting any cooperation between law enforcement in our state and federal immigration authorities—including for criminals who are convicted felons, known gang members, on the terrorist watch-list, or subject to a final deportation order. Vote tally: House: 79-61; Senate: 20-15. Numerous Senator Sampson amendments failed in the Senate.

• Senator Sampson introduced multiple bills over the past eight years to ensure that local and state government respect and follow federal immigration law, eliminating “Sanctuary Cities.” These bills were blocked by Democrat majority committee co-chairs, who control what bills advance through the legislature: 2017 HB 5272/5555; 2019SB 993; 2021 SB 512 & 2023 SB 778