HARTFORD — Federal ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents today chased a man from outside of the Danbury Superior Courthouse into the street, where he was hit by a car.
Dan Barrett, legal director of the ACLU of Connecticut, had the following reaction:
“ICE agents jeopardized this man’s life and public safety by chasing him into the street, and they undermined public safety and justice by using the Danbury Courthouse as a hunting ground for deportation. The Trump administration’s vicious practice of picking up immigrants at courthouses is dangerous and unjust. It threatens public safety and subverts justice by making it harder for Connecticut residents to exercise their constitutional rights to access protection, call witnesses, offer testimony, settle custody matters, and seek redress.”
A recent report shows that nationwide, fear of deportation is stopping immigrants from reporting crimes and participating in court proceedings. Since President Trump took office, immigration enforcement officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have dramatically expanded their presence at courthouses across the country.
In 2017, then-Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice Chase Rogers wrote a letter asking U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to protect Connecticut courthouses from immigration enforcement. Immigrants’ rights groups have repeatedly noted ICE’s presence at courthouses throughout the state.
For the nationwide report regarding the harms to public safety and justice caused by ICE’s presence at courthouses: https://www.aclu.org/news/new-aclu-report-shows-fear-deportation-deterring-immigrants-reporting-crimes
