Signed by Governor Ned Lamont

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that limits investigative cooperation between local law enforcement officers and federal immigration agencies.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any law enforcement officer or employee of a school police or security department from detaining an individual in pursuit of a civil immigration detainer unless the detainees is accompanied by a warrant issues or signed by a judicial officer, unless the law enforcement officer determines that the individual (Sec. 1):

• Has been convicted of a felony;

• Is subject to pending criminal charges in the state where bond has not been posted;

• Has an outstanding warrant in the state;

• Is identified as a known gang member in the National Crime Infrastructure database or any similar database, or is designated as a Security Risk Group member or a Security Risk Group Safety Threat by the Department of Corrections;

• Is identifies as a possible match in the federal Terrorist Screening Database;

• Is subject to a final order of deportation or removal issued by a federal immigration authority; or

• Presents an acceptable risk to public safety, as determined by the law enforcement officer.

• Prohibits any law enforcement officer or employee of a school police of security department from arresting or detaining an individual based on a civil immigration detainer or an administrative warrant, unless the law enforcement officer determines the individual falls under the previously listed circumstances (Sec. 1).  

• Specifies that any confidential information of an individual who comes into contact with a law enforcement officer to be disclosed to a federal immigration authority only if such disclosure is (Sec. 1):

• Authorizes in writing by the individual to whom the information pertains, or by the parent or guardian of such individual if hey are a minor;

• Necessary in furtherance of a criminal investigation related to potential terrorism; or

• Otherwise required by law.

• Defines “confidential information” as any information obtained and maintained by a law enforcement agency related to the following (Sec 1):

• An individual’s sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, or their immigration status;

• Whether such individual is a crime witness or the recipient or public assistance; and

• An individual’s income tax or other financial records, including Social Security numbers.

• Defines “civil immigration detainer” as a request from a federal immigration authority to a local or state law enforcement agency for purposes including, but not limited to the following (Sec. 1):

• Detaining a individual suspected of violating a federal immigration law or who has been issues a final order of removal;

• Facilitating the arrest of an individual by a federal immigration authority, or the transfer of an individual to the custody of a federal immigration authority;

• Providing notification of the release date and date of an individual in custody; and

• Notifying a law enforcement officer, through any form used by the US Department of Homeland Security, of the federal immigration authority’s intent to take custody of an individual.

• Defines “school police or security department” as any police or security department of the constituent units of the state system of higher education, a public school, or a local or regional school district (Sec. 1).

• Defines “judicial officer” as any judge of the state or federal judicial branches other than an immigration judge (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that limits investigative cooperation between local law enforcement officers and federal immigration agencies.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any law enforcement officer or employee of a school police or security department from detaining an individual in pursuit of a civil immigration detainer unless the detainees is accompanied by a warrant issues or signed by a judicial officer, unless the law enforcement officer determines that the individual (Sec. 1):

• Has been convicted of a felony;

• Is subject to pending criminal charges in the state where bond has not been posted;

• Has an outstanding warrant in the state;

• Is identified as a known gang member in the National Crime Infrastructure database or any similar database, or is designated as a Security Risk Group member or a Security Risk Group Safety Threat by the Department of Corrections;

• Is identifies as a possible match in the federal Terrorist Screening Database;

• Is subject to a final order of deportation or removal issued by a federal immigration authority; or

• Presents an acceptable risk to public safety, as determined by the law enforcement officer.

• Prohibits any law enforcement officer or employee of a school police of security department from arresting or detaining an individual based on a civil immigration detainer or an administrative warrant, unless the law enforcement officer determines the individual falls under the previously listed circumstances (Sec. 1).  

• Specifies that any confidential information of an individual who comes into contact with a law enforcement officer to be disclosed to a federal immigration authority only if such disclosure is (Sec. 1):

• Authorizes in writing by the individual to whom the information pertains, or by the parent or guardian of such individual if hey are a minor;

• Necessary in furtherance of a criminal investigation related to potential terrorism; or

• Otherwise required by law.

• Defines “confidential information” as any information obtained and maintained by a law enforcement agency related to the following (Sec 1):

• An individual’s sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, or their immigration status;

• Whether such individual is a crime witness or the recipient or public assistance; and

• An individual’s income tax or other financial records, including Social Security numbers.

• Defines “civil immigration detainer” as a request from a federal immigration authority to a local or state law enforcement agency for purposes including, but not limited to the following (Sec. 1):

• Detaining a individual suspected of violating a federal immigration law or who has been issues a final order of removal;

• Facilitating the arrest of an individual by a federal immigration authority, or the transfer of an individual to the custody of a federal immigration authority;

• Providing notification of the release date and date of an individual in custody; and

• Notifying a law enforcement officer, through any form used by the US Department of Homeland Security, of the federal immigration authority’s intent to take custody of an individual.

• Defines “school police or security department” as any police or security department of the constituent units of the state system of higher education, a public school, or a local or regional school district (Sec. 1).

• Defines “judicial officer” as any judge of the state or federal judicial branches other than an immigration judge (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text