Did ICE's conduct at the Meriden, Connecticut, courthouse violate the state's TRUST Act?
ICE agents arrested a man inside a Meriden, Connecticut, courthouse while activists demanded to know why masked agents were violating the TRUST Act. State officials called it improper; ICE called the arrest appropriate and said marshals impeded it.
Claim in dispute
ICE's actions at the Meriden courthouse were a deliberate provocation that caused serious injury and needless chaos for the state's court system, and the state will use its authority to enforce the TRUST Act against federal challenges.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
This case classifies public responses to a specific question: did ICE's conduct at the Meriden courthouse on September 23, 2026, including its use of face coverings, the courthouse arrest itself, and how the operation and judicial marshals' cooperation with it were carried out, comply with Connecticut's TRUST Act? It does not classify the broader constitutionality fight over the TRUST Act, ICE's national enforcement priorities, or Almara-Diaz's underlying removal case.
The public accounts agree on the basic sequence. The Connecticut Mirror (opens in a new tab) reported that ICE agents entered the Meriden courthouse around midday on September 23 and took a man into custody, that activists gathered outside demanding to know why the agents were violating the TRUST Act, and that judicial marshals moved activists away from the entrance. Nancy Burton, a rapid response team member, said she was pepper-sprayed by an agent who was leaving the courthouse: "He wanted to use his pepper spray, he didn't have to." Another team member, Madeline Gallagher, fell and was taken to a hospital by ambulance; the Connecticut Mirror reported she was pushed back by a courthouse security staffer, while Hands Off Connecticut's statement, reported by the Hartford Courant, said a marshal was responsible. The Connecticut Judicial Branch confirmed the arrest the same evening and said Judicial Marshal Services had received a "Warrant of Removal/Deportation" before it, according to Patch (opens in a new tab).
ICE said in a statement reported by WSHU (opens in a new tab) that courthouse arrests are common sense because officers already know where a target will be, and that the practice is safer for officers and the community. A fuller version of the statement, reported by Connecticut Centinal (opens in a new tab), identified the man arrested as Welington Leonel Almara-Diaz, cited two prior driving-under-the-influence counts and a 2023 final removal order, and said several judicial marshals impeded the arrest. We attribute the marshal-impede claim to ICE's own account; it is not independently confirmed.
The Judicial Branch's review reached a different conclusion. The Hartford Courant reported (opens in a new tab) that a branch spokeswoman said, "Based on our review of videos and interviews conducted to date, we do not believe that our marshals impeded the work of federal officials." Whether the agents had approval to wear face coverings inside the courthouse was not resolved in the reporting we reviewed; NBC Connecticut reported (opens in a new tab) that some but not all of the agents wore masks and that a Judicial Branch spokesperson did not answer when asked whether ICE had approval to do so. Sources also disagree on whether the TRUST Act's mask ban itself was already in force on September 23: the Connecticut Mirror described it as a standing rule, while the Hartford Courant (opens in a new tab) and NBC Connecticut both described a state law banning ICE from wearing masks as "scheduled to take effect" or beginning October 1, 2026, after this arrest.
Miguel Castro, an immigrant-rights advocate who recorded the confrontation, wrote on Facebook, in an excerpt reported by Patch (opens in a new tab), that the man arrested had been targeted through racial profiling over what Castro described as a motor-vehicle violation. In a separate interview with WFSB, Castro said the man had been in court for a DUI arrest. We were not able to independently confirm which characterization of the underlying stop is accurate.
State officials criticized ICE's conduct. Attorney General William Tong called it "ICE's deliberate provocation" that "resulted in serious injury and caused needless chaos for our court system." Governor Ned Lamont's office said ICE's presence "can endanger people seeking justice" and noted that, beginning October 1, 2026, a new TRUST Act provision requires ICE to show a judicial warrant to enter certain protected spaces. House Speaker Matt Ritter and Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney also criticized the operation, with Looney saying federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and ATF do not wear masks. These statements are reported in the Hartford Courant (opens in a new tab).
The available record does not publicly resolve whether ICE had judicial approval to wear face coverings inside the courthouse, whether the underlying stop of Almara-Diaz involved a DUI arrest or a lesser motor-vehicle violation, or whether marshals impeded the arrest itself. Video, the Judicial Branch's completed review and any court filings could clarify these questions.
Timeline
8 timeline entries on this page. Dates: September 23, 2026 to September 29, 2026
September 2026
8 events
ICE agents arrest Welington Leonel Almara-Diaz inside the Meriden courthouse
Incident
ICE agents, several wearing face coverings, arrested Almara-Diaz inside Meriden Superior Court around midday. Judicial marshals moved activists away from the courthouse entrance; one woman was pepper-sprayed and another fell and was taken to a hospital by ambulance.
[01]Two people hurt as activists, ICE clash at Meriden courthouse
Source excerpt
He wanted to use his pepper spray, he didn’t have to.
On-scene original reporting from the Connecticut Mirror covering the September 23, 2026 arrest and confrontation at the Meriden courthouse. This is the case's primary source.
Two people hurt as activists, ICE clash at Meriden courthouseFull article, including the Burton, Gallagher, Ment and Ritter quotes[02]Viewer video allegedly shows ICE agents entering Meriden courthouse to make arrest
Source excerpt
You would have to get details on any arrests made by ICE from that agency
Reports the Meriden mayor's office statement that it was not notified of the operation, and Miguel Castro's on-record account of the confrontation.
Viewer video allegedly shows ICE agents entering Meriden courthouse to make arrestParagraphs quoting Miguel Castro and the Meriden mayor's office[03]Person detained by ICE at Meriden courthouse Thursday: Officials
Source excerpt
The initial reports and videos from Meriden today are concerning, and state police are investigating what occurred.
Reports that some ICE agents wore masks and some did not, quotes Governor Lamont's communications office, and reports the Meriden mayor's office was not notified.
Person detained by ICE at Meriden courthouse Thursday: OfficialsParagraphs on face coverings, the Governor's communications office statement, and the Meriden mayor's officeConnecticut Judicial Branch confirms the arrest and says it is reviewing the incident
Reaction
The Judicial Branch said Judicial Marshal Services had received a Warrant of Removal/Deportation before the arrest and that it was examining video of the incident to ensure state law was followed.
[01]Two people hurt as activists, ICE clash at Meriden courthouse
Source excerpt
He wanted to use his pepper spray, he didn’t have to.
On-scene original reporting from the Connecticut Mirror covering the September 23, 2026 arrest and confrontation at the Meriden courthouse. This is the case's primary source.
Two people hurt as activists, ICE clash at Meriden courthouseFull article, including the Burton, Gallagher, Ment and Ritter quotes[04]Man Arrested By ICE At Meriden Courthouse, Activist Injured In Confrontation: Reports
Source excerpt
The incident began after an individual with a DMV violation was allegedly targeted through racial profiling
Reports Miguel Castro's Facebook post describing the arrest as racial profiling, and reproduces the Connecticut Judicial Branch's full statement to WFSB.
Man Arrested By ICE At Meriden Courthouse, Activist Injured In Confrontation: ReportsParagraphs quoting Miguel Castro's Facebook post and the Judicial Branch's statement to WFSBGovernor Lamont's office calls the reports concerning and cites a state police investigation
Reaction
Governor Ned Lamont's communications office said the initial reports and videos from Meriden were concerning and that state police were investigating what occurred.
[03]Person detained by ICE at Meriden courthouse Thursday: Officials
Source excerpt
The initial reports and videos from Meriden today are concerning, and state police are investigating what occurred.
Reports that some ICE agents wore masks and some did not, quotes Governor Lamont's communications office, and reports the Meriden mayor's office was not notified.
Person detained by ICE at Meriden courthouse Thursday: OfficialsParagraphs on face coverings, the Governor's communications office statement, and the Meriden mayor's officeWhether ICE had approval to wear masks in the courthouse remains unresolved
Video showed some but not all ICE agents wearing face coverings inside the courthouse. A Judicial Branch spokesperson did not say whether ICE had approval under state law to do so.
[03]Person detained by ICE at Meriden courthouse Thursday: Officials
Source excerpt
The initial reports and videos from Meriden today are concerning, and state police are investigating what occurred.
Reports that some ICE agents wore masks and some did not, quotes Governor Lamont's communications office, and reports the Meriden mayor's office was not notified.
Person detained by ICE at Meriden courthouse Thursday: OfficialsParagraphs on face coverings, the Governor's communications office statement, and the Meriden mayor's officeICE identifies the man arrested and defends the operation
Claim
ICE publicly identified the man arrested as Welington Leonel Almara-Diaz, cited prior driving offenses and a 2023 removal order, and said judicial marshals impeded the arrest.
[05]Did ICE break state law when masked agents entered a Meriden courthouse?
Source excerpt
The ability of law enforcement to make arrests of criminal illegal aliens in courthouses is common sense.
Reports an ICE spokesperson's statement defending the Meriden arrest and a brief quote from Governor Lamont.
Did ICE break state law when masked agents entered a Meriden courthouse?Paragraphs quoting the ICE spokesperson's statement and Governor Lamont[06]Meriden Judicial Marshals Impede ICE Arrest, Threaten ICE Officer
Source excerpt
On September 23, ICE arrested Welington Leonel Almara-Diaz, a criminal illegal alien from Ecuador, in Meriden, Connecticut during a targeted enforcement operation.
A partisan outlet that says it obtained a full statement from DHS and ICE. We use it only for the portion of the statement that overlaps verbatim with WSHU's independently reported excerpt, and for the identification of Welington Leonel Almara-Diaz, which the Hartford Courant separately corroborated. We did not verify the article's uncorroborated claim that a marshal threatened an officer, and we do not repeat that specific claim.
Meriden Judicial Marshals Impede ICE Arrest, Threaten ICE OfficerFull DHS/ICE statement reproduced in the articleAttorney General William Tong calls ICE's conduct a deliberate provocation
Claim
Tong said ICE's actions at the courthouse caused serious injury and needless chaos and said his office would keep defending the state's immigration-enforcement limits.
[07]CT law limits federal ICE agents. Debate is over whether it can it be enforced or needs to change
Source excerpt
ICE’s deliberate provocation at the courthouse in Meriden resulted in serious injury and caused needless chaos for our court system.
Reports on-record reactions from state legislative leaders, the Attorney General, the Governor's office, an immigrant-advocacy coalition and the Judicial Branch as the TRUST Act's October 1 protected-spaces provision approached.
CT law limits federal ICE agents. Debate is over whether it can it be enforced or needs to changeQuotes from Ritter, Tong, Vaulman (for Governor Lamont), the Hands Off Connecticut coalition, Looney and the Judicial Branch spokeswomanJudicial Branch review finds no evidence marshals impeded ICE
Claim
A Judicial Branch spokeswoman said its review of videos and interviews did not support ICE's claim that marshals impeded the arrest, and that the review was continuing.
[07]CT law limits federal ICE agents. Debate is over whether it can it be enforced or needs to change
Source excerpt
ICE’s deliberate provocation at the courthouse in Meriden resulted in serious injury and caused needless chaos for our court system.
Reports on-record reactions from state legislative leaders, the Attorney General, the Governor's office, an immigrant-advocacy coalition and the Judicial Branch as the TRUST Act's October 1 protected-spaces provision approached.
CT law limits federal ICE agents. Debate is over whether it can it be enforced or needs to changeQuotes from Ritter, Tong, Vaulman (for Governor Lamont), the Hands Off Connecticut coalition, Looney and the Judicial Branch spokeswomanState leaders and an advocacy coalition react as new courthouse rules near
Reaction
Governor Lamont's office, House Speaker Matt Ritter, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and the Hands Off Connecticut coalition criticized ICE's conduct at the Meriden courthouse as a new TRUST Act provision requiring a judicial warrant in protected spaces was set to take effect October 1.
[07]CT law limits federal ICE agents. Debate is over whether it can it be enforced or needs to change
Source excerpt
ICE’s deliberate provocation at the courthouse in Meriden resulted in serious injury and caused needless chaos for our court system.
Reports on-record reactions from state legislative leaders, the Attorney General, the Governor's office, an immigrant-advocacy coalition and the Judicial Branch as the TRUST Act's October 1 protected-spaces provision approached.
CT law limits federal ICE agents. Debate is over whether it can it be enforced or needs to changeQuotes from Ritter, Tong, Vaulman (for Governor Lamont), the Hands Off Connecticut coalition, Looney and the Judicial Branch spokeswoman
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
ICE's actions at the Meriden courthouse were a deliberate provocation that caused serious injury and needless chaos for the state's court system, and the state will use its authority to enforce the TRUST Act against federal challenges.
Sources (1)
- CT law limits federal ICE agents. Debate is over whether it can it be enforced or needs to changeQuotes from Ritter, Tong, Vaulman (for Governor Lamont), the Hands Off Connecticut coalition, Looney and the Judicial Branch spokeswoman
Disputed claim
Arresting Welington Leonel Almara-Diaz inside the Meriden courthouse was appropriate because he already had a final order of removal, and making the arrest there conserved law-enforcement resources and was safer for officers and the community.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Sources (2)
- Did ICE break state law when masked agents entered a Meriden courthouse?Paragraphs quoting the ICE spokesperson's statement and Governor Lamont
- Meriden Judicial Marshals Impede ICE Arrest, Threaten ICE OfficerFull DHS/ICE statement reproduced in the article
Disputed claim
The man ICE arrested at the Meriden courthouse had been in court for a motor-vehicle violation and was targeted through racial profiling.
Sources (2)
- Man Arrested By ICE At Meriden Courthouse, Activist Injured In Confrontation: ReportsParagraphs quoting Miguel Castro's Facebook post and the Judicial Branch's statement to WFSB
- Viewer video allegedly shows ICE agents entering Meriden courthouse to make arrestParagraphs quoting Miguel Castro and the Meriden mayor's office
Response record
Responses
Latest recorded positions: 9. Dates: September 23, 2026 to September 29, 2026
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
1 response on this page
Office of the Mayor of Meriden "You would have to get details on any arrests made by ICE from that agency"
Open source (opens in a new tab)Viewer video allegedly shows ICE agents entering Meriden courthouse to make arrestParagraphs quoting Miguel Castro and the Meriden mayor's officeOpen source (opens in a new tab)Person detained by ICE at Meriden courthouse Thursday: OfficialsParagraphs on face coverings, the Governor's communications office statement, and the Meriden mayor's officeExplicitly stayed outCase context: Did ICE's conduct at the Meriden, Connecticut, courthouse violate the state's TRUST Act?
Read more
Meriden Mayor Kevin Scarpati's office said neither the mayor nor city police were told ICE would be in Meriden that day, and referred questions about the arrest to ICE.
Role at the time: Office of Meriden Mayor Kevin Scarpati
Before the statement
ICE did not notify Meriden's mayor or police department before or during the operation, according to the mayor's office.
After the statement
Advocates said they were unable to learn the arrested man's name before he was taken away.
Viewer video allegedly shows ICE agents entering Meriden courthouse to make arrestParagraphs quoting Miguel Castro and the Meriden mayor's officePerson detained by ICE at Meriden courthouse Thursday: OfficialsParagraphs on face coverings, the Governor's communications office statement, and the Meriden mayor's officeWhy this label?
The mayor's office redirects questions about the arrest to ICE rather than characterizing whether the operation was proper, an explicit decline to address the matter.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(7)
Reporting
Two people hurt as activists, ICE clash at Meriden courthouse
Relevant passage: Full article, including the Burton, Gallagher, Ment and Ritter quotes
Excerpt
"He wanted to use his pepper spray, he didn’t have to."
About this source
On-scene original reporting from the Connecticut Mirror covering the September 23, 2026 arrest and confrontation at the Meriden courthouse. This is the case's primary source.
- Author
- Laura Tillman / The Connecticut Mirror
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
CT law limits federal ICE agents. Debate is over whether it can it be enforced or needs to change
Relevant passage: Quotes from Ritter, Tong, Vaulman (for Governor Lamont), the Hands Off Connecticut coalition, Looney and the Judicial Branch spokeswoman
Excerpt
"ICE’s deliberate provocation at the courthouse in Meriden resulted in serious injury and caused needless chaos for our court system."
About this source
Reports on-record reactions from state legislative leaders, the Attorney General, the Governor's office, an immigrant-advocacy coalition and the Judicial Branch as the TRUST Act's October 1 protected-spaces provision approached.
- Author
- Christopher Keating / Hartford Courant
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Meriden Judicial Marshals Impede ICE Arrest, Threaten ICE Officer
Relevant passage: Full DHS/ICE statement reproduced in the article
Excerpt
"On September 23, ICE arrested Welington Leonel Almara-Diaz, a criminal illegal alien from Ecuador, in Meriden, Connecticut during a targeted enforcement operation."
About this source
A partisan outlet that says it obtained a full statement from DHS and ICE. We use it only for the portion of the statement that overlaps verbatim with WSHU's independently reported excerpt, and for the identification of Welington Leonel Almara-Diaz, which the Hartford Courant separately corroborated. We did not verify the article's uncorroborated claim that a marshal threatened an officer, and we do not repeat that specific claim.
- Author
- CT Centinal Staff
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Person detained by ICE at Meriden courthouse Thursday: Officials
Relevant passage: Paragraphs on face coverings, the Governor's communications office statement, and the Meriden mayor's office
Excerpt
"The initial reports and videos from Meriden today are concerning, and state police are investigating what occurred."
About this source
Reports that some ICE agents wore masks and some did not, quotes Governor Lamont's communications office, and reports the Meriden mayor's office was not notified.
- Author
- Jayne Chacko / NBC Connecticut
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Viewer video allegedly shows ICE agents entering Meriden courthouse to make arrest
Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting Miguel Castro and the Meriden mayor's office
Excerpt
"You would have to get details on any arrests made by ICE from that agency"
About this source
Reports the Meriden mayor's office statement that it was not notified of the operation, and Miguel Castro's on-record account of the confrontation.
- Author
- WFSB Staff
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Man Arrested By ICE At Meriden Courthouse, Activist Injured In Confrontation: Reports
Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting Miguel Castro's Facebook post and the Judicial Branch's statement to WFSB
Excerpt
"The incident began after an individual with a DMV violation was allegedly targeted through racial profiling"
About this source
Reports Miguel Castro's Facebook post describing the arrest as racial profiling, and reproduces the Connecticut Judicial Branch's full statement to WFSB.
- Author
- Vincent Salzo / Patch
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Did ICE break state law when masked agents entered a Meriden courthouse?
Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting the ICE spokesperson's statement and Governor Lamont
Excerpt
"The ability of law enforcement to make arrests of criminal illegal aliens in courthouses is common sense."
About this source
Reports an ICE spokesperson's statement defending the Meriden arrest and a brief quote from Governor Lamont.
- Author
- Davis Dunavin / WSHU
- Published
- Accessed