William Tong
Role at the time: Connecticut Attorney General
Condemned
Response to this 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.
“ICE’s deliberate provocation at the courthouse in Meriden resulted in serious injury and caused needless chaos for our court system. ... No one is above the law, including federal immigration officials. We are using every ounce of our authority to protect the people of Connecticut, including vigorously defending the state’s lawful and necessary measures to protect public safety against federal challenges.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)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
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.
Why we used this label
Tong directly denounces ICE's conduct as a provocation that caused injury and chaos, an express criticism of that conduct.