If you think that residents of Connecticut are unaffected by the Trump administration's harsh immigration enforcement, then the events of the past two weeks should change that image and worry you.

Recently, the Trump administration's heavy-handed immigration policy was on display outside the courthouse in Middletown when agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrived on the scene unannounced and arrested a person while he was awaiting his court hearing. 

According to the city's mayor, the Middletown Police Department was not notified in advance of the government's actions, and witnesses alleged that ICE agents arrived in an unmarked SUV with one officer wearing a bandanna that covered most of his face.

For months, immigration advocates in Connecticut have reported instances of ICE agents waiting outside courthouses in the state to arrest individuals suspected of entering the country illegally. These actions have instilled fear in the community, making people less inclined to report crimes or attend court to address civil infractions.

The State General Assembly is considering strengthening legislation, entitled the Trust Act, that prohibits local and state law enforcement from assisting ICE in detaining an individual on an immigration detainer, unless the individual has been convicted of a class A or B felony.

Bill HB7212: An Act Concerning The Trust Act will prohibit ICE agents from abducting an individual from a courthouse without a judicial warrant, ensure that public agencies do not share information about any individual without their consent, and prohibit giving state contracts to groups that work with federal immigration in the detaining of an individual protected under the Trust Act.

It is unfortunate that we live in a society in which actions taken by the Trump administration are considered acceptable. No one should have to live in fear. Enhancements to the Trust Act will ensure that all residents of Connecticut are guaranteed their due process rights, while also ensuring that individuals convicted of serious crimes are removed from our neighborhoods.