In light of the current national landscape and the increase in deportations and ICE activity, GHIAA has identified two areas for action to make CT a safer state for immigrants: supporting a strengthened Trust Act, and advocating for ICE preparedness plans in the institutions with which we are in relationship.

Legislatively, GHIAA is working with the Trust Act Now coalition to pass HB 7212, which would expand existing protections for our immigrant community members here in CT. Current law prohibits state and local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE except in specific circumstances (with a judicial warrant in effect, or when the person in question has been convicted of a serious felony or placed on a terrorism watch list), but it lacks effective accountability for violations. The proposed expansion would include not only law enforcement, but all public agencies and officials. It would add reporting and oversight requirements, and it would establish the right to sue for certain violations of the law. It would also ban immigration enforcement actions at state courthouses or when a person is on the way to or from a court proceeding. Finally, it would require future state contracts to include a certification that vendors who do business with the state will not cooperate with ICE.

GHIAA leaders submitted 70+ written testimonies in support of HB 7212, which received an affirmative vote in the Judiciary Committee on April 8. It is now awaiting a vote in the full legislature.

On a community/institutional scale, GHIAA is equipping leaders to develop and implement plans to keep people as safe as possible in our spaces. We held a Know Your Rights training and are gathering resources for institutional as well as individual preparedness.