Immigrants' Rights

A crowd of women at the Trust Act Coalition's press conference are all holding various signs that say "Strengthen the Trust Act" and "Keep Families Together" and things along those lines. The focal point is an orange sign that "Undocumented + Unafraid."

Immigrants to the United States are frequently targets of discrimination, and undocumented immigrants are particularly susceptible to abuse by the government. The ACLU of Connecticut works to defend immigrants’ rights and to ensure humane treatment under the Constitution, which is supposed to protect all people within our borders. We have reminded Connecticut police departments that partnering with federal immigration agencies to deport Connecticut residents could violate the Constitution and Connecticut state law, advocated against Danbury's decision in the mid-2000's to partner with federal immigration agents, supported the passage of the Connecticut TRUST Act to protect immigrants' due process rights, and worked to strengthen state laws to prevent racial profiling by police.

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News & Commentary
There is a crowd of folks rallying for reproductive justice. The focus is on one femme-presenting person with a beanie and a sign up in the air that is a black poster that says "Our Voice is Our Power."

Slowing, Shutting Down, and Reversing Trump’s March to Autocracy

ACLU of Connecticut executive director David McGuire shares insight into how we can collectively act and organize to slow, shut down, and reverse the country's march towards autocracy under the Trump administration.
News & Commentary
A group of women are standing in a hearing room at the Capitol, holding signs that says "Undocumented + Unafraid" and "Strengthen the Trust Act Now!"

Reflecting on the 2025 Legislative Session

The 2025 legislative session has come to a close, and it was certainly a trying session for all. In a session where roughly 3,800 bills were introduced, only about 380 bills were passed, rounding up to a passing rate of about ten percent.
Press Release
Breaking News ACLU of Connecticut

ACLU of CT Statement on Connecticut State Senate Passage of H.B. 7259

ACLU of CT’s public policy and advocacy director Chelsea-Infinity Gonzalez’s statement on Connecticut State Senate passage of H.B. 7259.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights, Criminal Legal System
News & Commentary
CDSE Guidance

ICE Guidance for Connecticut Schools

Students deserve to learn in an environment free from harm.
Legislation
Mar 14, 2025

H.B. 7212: An Act Concerning the Trust Act

The ACLU of Connecticut urges our lawmakers to strengthen the Trust Act with the proposed amendments offered by the Trust Act Now Coalition.
Position: Needs amendments
Legislation
Feb 24, 2023

HB 6588, An Act Concerning Rent Stabilization

Everybody deserves a safe and stable place to live. Rent hikes and no fault evictions are displacing people from their homes and communities, fueling gentrification, increasing evictions and homelessness, which disproportionately harms Black and brown working class renters and immigrant communities.
Position: Support
Legislation
Feb 24, 2023

HB 6391, An Act Increasing Penalties for the Violation of Municipal Ordinances

Exponentially increasing the maximum fine that municipalities can charge for ordinance violations is likely to further entrench people, especially families of color, into cycles of poverty. What results is a two-tiered criminal legal system, where income level determines the outcome.
Position: Oppose
Legislation
Feb 24, 2023

HB 6616, An Act Concerning the Expansion of Husky Health Benefits to Persons Ineligible Due to Immigration Status

The ACLU-CT believes in equality for all people, no matter where they are from or what they have been subjected to in their past. Medical care is a human right, so immigration status should have no impact on someone’s ability to access healthcare.
Position: Support