Statewide Coalition Urges Gov. Lamont to Protect Connecticut National Guard from Misuse Tied to Harmful Federal Actions

HARTFORD, Conn. – A diverse, statewide coalition of 45 organizations advocating for civil rights and civil liberties in Connecticut is urging Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to issue an executive order to protect the state’s National Guard from misuse and abuse by the Trump Administration.

The coalition, which was organized by the ACLU of Connecticut, sent a letter to Lamont this week recommending specific language to ensure the Connecticut National Guard, while under the Governor’s command, is not used for domestic law enforcement activities that conflict with the state’s values and priorities.

Across the country, the ACLU is urging state leaders to make clear that their National Guard units will not voluntarily participate in unlawful or rights-violating federal operations. Governors have the power to refuse the use of their Guard troops for suppressing peaceful protest, turbocharging immigration raids, or assisting federal agencies in conduct that violates people’s civil rights. In certain circumstances, states can also decline to support or facilitate federal troops or federal law enforcement when their actions conflict with state laws or constitutional protections.

Already this year, President Trump has called Guard units into service to support immigration enforcement and respond to peaceful protests in California, Illinois, Oregon Tennessee, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia—resulting in multiple legal battles about the President’s authority to federalize Guard troops and clashes with democratic governors who disagree with his approach. These deployments underscore why states must clearly assert their authority over their Guard units and refuse voluntary participation in federal actions that violate people’s rights.

The letter to Lamont offers specific language to include in an executive order to protect both the Guard and Connecticut residents, explicitly stating:

“Guard personnel, equipment, facilities, and data may not be used for civil immigration enforcement. It should also clarify that the Guard may not be deployed or otherwise used to assist federal or out-of-state troops operating in Connecticut without the Governor’s consent, and may not be deployed to other states for immigration-related missions without the explicit written authorization of both the Governor of Connecticut and the Governor of the receiving state, except where required by law. In addition, the Order should articulate a clear commitment that any in-state use of the Guard for law-enforcement purposes will be reserved only for the most extraordinary circumstances—situations of dire, widespread criminality beyond the capacity of civilian law enforcement.”

“We have already seen the President manufacture crises to support his political agenda and deploy military forces in American cities,” said David McGuire, Executive Director of the ACLU of Connecticut. “There’s nothing theoretical about the executive order we need in Connecticut to protect our communities and our Guard units from deployments that sow fear and tear communities apart. People in Connecticut are justifiably worried and deserve clear assurances that our Guard will not be used to further a federal agenda while under our control. Governor Lamont has a real opportunity to stand up against authoritarianism by issuing an executive order on this critical issue.”

In addition to delivering the letter to Lamont, ACLU of Connecticut is encouraging Connecticut residents to call the Governor and push him to sign the executive order.

“Protecting our Guard from being deployed in a manner that’s antithetical to Connecticut’s values is about standing up for our civil liberties and ensuring the state’s power is exercised lawfully, responsibly, and with respect for people’s rights.,” added Chelsea-Infinity Gonzalez, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy of the ACLU of Connecticut. “Connecticut has both the authority and the responsibility to make clear that our Guard will not be used to suppress peaceful protest or support immigration raids carried out in violation of people’s rights. People and organizations across Connecticut are standing together on this, and we call on the Governor to join them by issuing this order immediately.”

Advocates for civil rights from across the state added their perspective on why Governor Lamont must issue an executive order immediately:

• “Connecticut For All is calling for a simple principle: our state will not be complicit in the misuse of military power against civilians,” said Norma Martinez-HoSang, Director of Connecticut For All. “At a moment when federal leaders are using fear and militarized force to silence communities, Connecticut has a responsibility to lead with courage and values. We are urging Governor Lamont to guarantee that our National Guard will not be weaponized against our own neighbors. Protecting civil rights is not optional.”
• “As people of faith, we have watched with horror as clergy and laypeople in Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and elsewhere have faced the violence of militarized law enforcement while gathering peacefully to support and protect immigrant community members,” said Rev. Jocelyn Gardner Spencer, Lead Organizer at Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance. “Grounded in the values and teachings of our many faiths, we also oppose the anti-immigrant rhetoric and actions of the current federal administration. We call on Gov. Lamont to protect the safety of immigrants, of our National Guard members, and of all people of faith and conscience here in Connecticut, by putting these common-sense safeguards into place immediately.”

• “Governor Lamont can and should use his authority to stand up to President Trump’s authoritarian impulses,” said Benjamin R. Farley, Special Counsel at National Immigration Law Center. “Since taking office, we’ve seen President Trump repeatedly reach for emergency and wartime powers, needlessly deploy U.S. armed forces to American streets, and trample on bedrock principles of American democracy like federalism. The people of Connecticut deserve assurance that their streets won’t be senselessly militarized, and that their neighbors and family members won’t be sent out of state as props in political theatre.”
• “Young people across Connecticut are asking for one simple thing: keep our families safe and together,” said Tabitha Sookdeo, Executive Director of Connecticut Students for a Dream. “We urge Governor Lamont to make clear that the National Guard will not participate in federal immigration enforcement that tears families apart.”

• “State governments--especially Democratic state governments--are now the last, best line of defense against the wave of authoritarianism sweeping too many corners of this country,” said Lyndsey J. of Thread City of Indivisible. “The people of Connecticut need to know that the governor and the state house stand behind protections that keep our own National Guard--our own people--from being used against us.”

• “These safeguards are important for the safety of everyone in our communities. We gladly support this initiative,” said Beth Hillson of TACT Indivisible-Glastonbury.

• “Governor Lamont, Please protect CT's citizens from the Trump Administration's overreach using CT's National Guard troops,” said Evelyn Cumberbatch of Greater New Haven Indivisible.

• “It is critical that Connecticut does all that it can to protect all of our residents,” said Robin Henrie of Indivisible North Central Connecticut. “Allowing any of our state resources, especially our National Guard, would only add to the harm that the Trump agenda is already causing.”

• “While Project on Government Oversight (POGO) is focused on federal and national level concerns, we recognize that this fight against inappropriate domestic deployment is being waged at the state level,” said Virginia Burger of Project On Government Oversight. “We support the ACLU of Connecticut in advocating for this executive order.”

The full list of organizations joining the effort to inspire Governor Lamont to issue the executive order includes: ACLU of Connecticut; Act Local NWCT; Bridgeport Generation Now; Center for Leadership & Justice; Connecticut Citizen Action Group; Connecticut For All; Connecticut Voices for Children; CT 50501; CT River Huddle Indivisible; CT Students for a Dream; Danbury Unites for Immigrants; DWA Indivisible; Good Trouble - Indivisible Norwalk; Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA); Greater Hartford Branch of NAACP; Greater New Haven Indivisible; Greater Westville Indivisible, New Haven, CT; Hartford; Deportation Defense; Indivisible Hartford; Indivisible CT; Indivisible Greenwich; Indivisible Middlesex CT; Indivisible North Central CT; Indivisible Small and Mighty; Indivisible Southeast CT; Indivisible Stamford; Indivisible WEMAH; League of Women Voters of Connecticut; Make the Road CT; Middlesex Immigrant Rights Alliance; National Immigration Law Center; New England Healthcare Employees Union District 1199; Orange CT Indivisible (OCTI); Project On Government Oversight; Quiet Corner Indivisible-CT; REBS; ReSisters; SEIU Connecticut State Council; She Leads Justice; TACT Indivisible-Glastonbury; Thread City Indivisible; Three Arrows MHS; Tolland Good Trouble; Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut; and Veterans for Peace.

Connecticut is one of several states across the country where advocates are urging governors to establish clear firewalls against the voluntary use of state Guard units in federal operations that violate civil rights. In addition to asking for immediate action by Governor Lamont for an executive order, the Connecticut coalition is also urging elected leaders to pass legislation next session to codify these protections.

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