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Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz led the celebratory signing of SB 397, today — Democrats’ aggressive new law aimed at handcuffing federal immigration officers.
The bill forces ICE agents to unmask and display visible ID, lets state prosecutors go after them for “abusing authority,” creates a private right to sue federal agents in state court, carves out “safe zones” (schools, hospitals, churches, courthouses) where ICE can’t make civil arrests without a judicial warrant, and restricts automated license plate reader data.
Bysiewicz hailed it as a “very meaningful step forward” to “protect democracy” — even as the bill is widely expected to be struck down for violating the Supremacy Clause. Similar “unmasking” and ID requirements were just blocked by the 9th Circuit in California on April 22, and the DOJ sued New Jersey over its version on April 29.
Yet Democrats weren’t deterred.
"Here in Connecticut we believe public safety and civil rights go hand-in-hand,” Bysiewicz said, not-so-subtly implying federal agents don’t. She spoke of protecting “residents” — not citizens.
Senator Martin Looney said democrats believe the bill is important to "protecting the state's right to regulate public health and public safety under the police powers the state has," claiming SB 397 "stands on solid ground."
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff boasted it was “the strongest law in the country,” declaring “we are taking back our country” and keeping “ICE agents away from us.” He claimed people were “literally afraid” to leave home because of federal officers. "We should not be afraid of our own government and what it will do to us," he said.
"So we had to pass Senate Bill 397 to take back our country and to make sure that we keep ICE agents away from us and abiding by the law of the state of Connecticut and the Constitution of the United States of America," Duff boasted. "I know that this is the strongest law in the country."
Duff promised the Democrats "are taking back our country."
State House Speaker Matt Ritter claimed "only one President" has decided to "tear down the norms" around immigration enforcement.
State Sen. Gary Winfield said that passing SB 397 was "really about thinking about the neighbors who we don't always think about." He said the legislation unfolded because people should never have to be scared go to in normal places.
"The Constitution doesn't just apply to me, and those that were born here," said Winfield. "It applies to everyone who is on this land and Connecticut has said that your Constitutional rights matter."
State Rep. Steve Stafstrom claimed SB 397 was not a "statement about partisan preference," while citing progressive activist groups and labor unions that supported the bill. He called SB 397 a "measured, Constitutionally-grounded response to an unprecedented breakdown in federal accountability" and blamed ICE for intentionally running "campaign of fear across this country."
He went on to argue that illegals should be able to operate normally in our state, and without fear of getting picked up by immigration because "these are our neighbors... our constituents... the people who sit behind us in church pews."
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal went further, claiming ICE is “out of control,” “seizing high school students,” and “tearing people from cars.” He suggested that "cruelty and illegality come from the top down" and so does "respect for rule of law." He vowed to block federal funding for ICE and CBP until the whole country adopts Connecticut’s rules.
AG William Tong admitted similar laws are being challenged but promised he won't go down without a fight, insisting Connecticut remains “sovereign” and can set its own values. He also asserted that Connecticut has at all times followed federal law, and "any suggestion to the contrary is false.
Gov. Ned Lamont complained about how "brutal" the White House is toward "criminal aliens," compared ICE enforcement under Trump to Jim Crow laws, and then closed by assuring illegal immigrants: “We care about you. You belong in this state and I want you to feel like you’re at home here."
You can watch the full press conference here:
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