Hartford operates under the Connecticut Trust Act, Connecticut General Statutes section 54-192h enacted in 2013 as the first state Trust Act, which limits local cooperation with federal immigration detainer requests.
Connecticut General Statutes section 54-192h, the Connecticut Trust Act passed in 2013 as the first state-level Trust Act in the United States, prohibits Hartford Police Department and other state and municipal law enforcement from honoring federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement civil detainer requests except in narrow circumstances involving serious felony convictions, terrorist watchlist designation, or judicial warrants. Hartford has further declared itself a welcoming city through Court of Common Council resolutions reinforcing the Trust Act. Police may not inquire about immigration status during routine encounters, and city services including Hartford Public Schools enrollment, library access, and emergency services remain available regardless of immigration status. Federal criminal warrants signed by judges remain enforceable.
Honoring civil ICE detainer without warrant, asking immigration status routinely, denying city services based on status, sharing information improperly, refusing emergency response.
See how Hartford's sanctuary policy preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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