Last Monday, masked ICE agents arrested 2 people inside the Stamford courthouse.
On Thursday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers entered the Norwalk Police parking lot, without consent from the department or any other city officials. Police told them to leave.
The next day, ICE agents retured again. Once again, they were directed to depart.
Norwalk’s mayor, police chief and Common Council released a statement, assailing tactics used by ICE and affirming the city’s goal of ensuring that “all residents are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of anyone’s immigration status or background.” (Click here to read the full statement.)
“06880” reached out to the 3 candidates for first selectman, for comment on ICE’s recent actions, and their possible impact on Westport. We also asked 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker. She said she and Police Chief Dave Farrell would reply this morning.
Independent Party candidate David Rosenwaks says:
“As first selectman, I will prioritize keeping Westport safe. A current member of the Representative Town Meeting’s Public Protection Committee and a graduate of the Westport Police Academy, I have met and interacted with many of our officers and have learned a lot from them. I believe that we have a world-class police force, and they do an admirable job serving our community.
“I also believe that local law enforcement should be focused on protecting our community by promptly responding to emergencies, preventing crime, and building trust with our citizens. However, I am of the opinion that our local officers should never serve as an extension of ICE. Furthermore, actions we’ve seen from ICE agents are not consistent with Westport’s values of inclusiveness and decency. Thus, if ICE agents showed up in Westport, we would respond similarly to Norwalk.
“If a situation arises that threatens the safety and security of Westport and its residents, I support cooperation between local, state and federal agencies. But I oppose any actions that create fear among our residents and employees who are contributing members of Westport. We must uphold our values of respect, fairness, and community. Westport is a welcoming town where everyone deserves to live in harmony with our shared values of civility and humanity.”
Republican-endorsed candidate Don O’Day says:
“Westport follows the Connecticut Trust Act, which sets the legal framework for how local law enforcement interacts with ICE.
“Under this law, the Westport PD is not required or even expected to cooperate with ICE, except in limited cases such as when there is a signed judicial warrant. I fully support this approach.
“Equally important, everyone in town, residents, visitors, employees — everyone – should feel welcome and safe. My wife Toni is a US citizen, but she was born in Italy. Should her immigration status make her a target? Of course not. But for many immigrants, that’s the fear they live with. It’s wrong.
“Bullying, targeting, or improper treatment of immigrants, or anyone must never be tolerated.
“I am confident that Westport’s Police Department will uphold that principle with dignity and class, as they do every day.”
Democratic Party candidate Kevin Christie says:
“Like many of you, I was horrified to see the video of ICE agents in Norwalk, wearing masks and using tasers to take 2 people into custody. It was disturbing, and it has understandably raised concerns and outrage here in Westport. Let me be clear: Westport is a welcoming community, and as your first selectman, I will fight every day to make sure no one in our community ever has their basic rights ignored or trampled.
“As your first selectman, I will:
* Partner with our police chief to issue a clear public statement so everyone knows their rights and what steps they should take to protect themselves and their families.
* Ensure that constitutional rights are protected and that no federal agency uses intimidation to undermine our community values.
* Be in close contact with state leaders, including Attorney General William Tong and our legislative delegation, to make sure Westport stands on firm legal ground as we protect our community. In fact, I’ve already started these conversations.
“Westport’s strength comes from our values as a welcoming, caring community. In moments like this, our responsibility is to protect every community member, ensure their rights are respected, and reaffirm that Westport aspires to be a place where everyone truly feels a sense of belonging.”
Kevin Christie also sends links to these resources:
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong’s memo on The Trust Act: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/post/general_notices/2025/gn-25-02/trust-act-guidance-memo-20250115.pdf
Governor Ned Lamont’s Family Preparedness Plan:
https://portal.ct.gov/governor/immigration-resources-family-preparedness-plan?language=en_US
ACLU-CT:
https://www.acluct.org/en/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights
For schools:
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sde/digest/2024-25/guidance_immigrationactivities_flyer.pdf
If someone has been detained:
https://sites.google.com/view/ctimmigrantcommunityresources/home
Help track arrests:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJS344O2TveLSdNhY4asHNvu8PzUEnyKlDml195TCaPjFvfA/viewform
Connecticut Immigration and Refugee Services organization:
https://cirict.org/
Connecticut Legal Services:
https://ctlegal.org
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(NOTE: Connecticut’s Trust Act limits information that state and local law enforcement can share with ICE, and restricts the circumstances under which Connecticut police officers can cooperate with federal immigration officers. Click here to read the full act.)
Thanks Dan. This is a real public service.
I am aware of many business owners who support Trump and aggressive deporting of undocumented immigrants. These business own business of remodeling roofing landscape building and realtors to name a few. These business owvers make a living off the hard work of their employees that they know are undocumented. I don’t understand the logic. USA has a labor shortage and many jobs will not be done by documented workers. 06880 economy is highly dependent on the backs of immigrant labor. I don’t understand the logic. It’s rare that the business owners are punished.
Trump has exempted farmers from being deported. He was pressured into that exemption by republicans in farming communities in red states.
who will cook and wash dishes in 06880 restaurants? who will change your roof in Westport ? Who will make your nails pretty in Westport ? who will build you a beautiful stone wall in Westport ? Who will weed mulch and cut grass in Westport ? Who will run your feet in Westport ? Who will frame a new gigantic house in a Westport ? Who will paint your house and work in 90 degree weather ? Who will detail your car ? and so on.
Workers in the USA legally.
Sounds like you think most of the Town’s workers are illegal aliens. You’re inviting ICE‼️
it’s one thing to answer a question on paper or make an opinion known. That’s a far cry from the reality in 06880 and USA. I would love to see Americans harvest fruit and vegetable and install / repair roofs on 32 ladders carrying 80 pound bags of shingles up the ladder. Try standing and walking on that roof in 90 degree temperature. It’s easy to talk a big game. It’s not so easy to walk in one’s shoes. Why aren’t business owners hiring Americans for those jobs ?
The answer to your last question is easy. Why would a business owner pay what an “American” would require to do those jobs when you can exploit undocumented immigrants who have few employment choices, paying them well below what the otherwise market clearing rate would be?
I’m guessing someone did those jobs before the influx of undocumented workers. Of course, everything would be more expensive. And we do love us some cheap labor/goods.
the jobs require skill. stenghtg. physical prowess. athleticism. balance. discipline. Many are paid reasonably well. Americans are unable to do these tasks. Hold tryouts. See how many can climb a 32 foot ladder and walk across an angled roof. Try cleaning gutters 28 feet off the ground. Try lifting 60 pound flagstones and ojacinh then on the ground repetitively. it’s easy to render an opinion. It’s a world apart to perform. the skill.
“Americans are unable to do these tasks”. Seriously? Gosh, I guess we didn’t used to have roofs before undocumented immigrants arrived. /smh
Are you saying doing roofing is somehow genetically ingrained in certain people and not others? Or are you going all Jimmy the Greek on us and saying undocumented immigrants were specifically bred to do these activities?
bill. The history of immigration gives you your answer. Who built bridges in USA. ? Americans ? Immigrants have always performed the most dangerous challenging jobs.
Sorry buddy this is a lie. It’s around 75/25 legal vs illegal in the construction industry. Americans have and very much do build bridges, far more so than illegal immigrants.
No, many Americans don’t want those jobs! Why? Pay! Who is against raising minmum wages to pay Americans a higher wage? Why?
Are they really paid the amount Americans would want to be paid? I thought, and perhaps wrong, American citizens would want to be paid more for such a job. Maybe I am confused.
it’s a non competitive market because Americans will not perform these jobs
Thanks, Dan, for posting the statements from all 3 First Selectman candidates … they’re very interesting, and informative.
As a retired local law enforcement leader, I would terminate or severely discipline anyone under my command for disrespecting or failing to cooperate with any state, federal or local agency in the performance of their legal duty.
Mike, what is a law enforcement offer to do if there is a conflict among existing local, state and federal laws?
I have an idea: In a situation such as you describe they could go to their superior officer and request instructions. CYA.
That’s an awesome non-answer.
👍😎😘
Westport is doomed ‼️🇺🇸
Westport is not doomed. It is overwhelmed by “the real world” encroaching on its residents’ ability to live and consume conspicuously while simultaneously eschewing the virtues of environmental responsibility, charity for all and affordable housing. Housing prices will continue to rise but the good news is: as the Bridgeporter P.T. Barnum once said: “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
Sounds doomed 🔥
Not if you’re selling and leaving town. In college we called it trash and leave.
😄🔥👍
So Federal agents can’t do their job deporting immigrants who violated our laws entering the country illegally, principally targeting the criminal ones…, because our town is ‘inclusive’? How utterly stupid.
ICE had no authorization to conduct their “activities” on local police department property. They were asked to leave by the local police. Twice. Federal gents couldn’t do their “job” because they attempted to do it illegally.
“Principally targeting”. That’s a good one. When they throw back the rest, do they do so at that moment or do they wait until the PRESUMED INNOCENT have been locked up without charge in a foreign prison?
Local law enforcement should assist in enforcing all laws. All the virtue signalling and people worried who’s gonna cut their lawns. How disgusting.
why not prosecute all the chicken plant owners who hire staffing companies that knowingly use undocumented immigrants? How come you do not advocate all the business owners who hire undocumented be punished under the current USA law?
Richard nails it – MAGA doesn’t want to lose all of those immigrant workers, they want to keep them “illegal” and without the power to organize or earn free market wages for their labor.
And Russell certainly is right about due process. It is absolutely disgraceful to arrest and deport people without any sort of a fair hearing. Thankfully, even our conservative judges are pushing back against some of these actions.
I don’t expect some people on here to grasp the common sense problems of ICE trying to arrest people in courthouses. Immigrants (whether they are here legally or not) will stop showing up. Same goes for arresting at immigration centers, hospitals, and schools.
ICE and federal authorities are doing their job according to federal law. What’s often left out of the conversation is that the same kind of enforcement happened under the Obama administration
Huh. Thats fascinating. I don’t recall reading about all the times during the Obama administration unidentified ICE agents routinely grabbed students off the street, without warrant, due process or charge, for their writing and speech, and then immediately deported them. Please provide proof of your assertion.
Russell “I don’t recall reading about it” just means you didn’t pay attention. Obama deported over 3 million people; more than any president in history. Families were separated, raids were conducted, and groups like the ACLU and Human Rights Watch documented widespread abuses. Just because it didn’t make your news feed doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Cherry-picking one administration while ignoring the record of another is either dishonest or willfully blind. Facts don’t disappear just because you didn’t bother to read them.
Ryan, I assure you, while enforcement did occur under the Obama administration, there are no circumstances where masked people in military garb and unmarked cars tackles and tased people.
Kevin, come on. ICE under Obama also used unmarked vehicles and tactical gear to detain people in public, sometimes aggressively. This isn’t new or shocking; it’s enforcement. The difference now is the media decided it’s a story.
Until you can provide a single, solitary piece of evidence for your assertions, 06880 readers will consider your statements to be factually untrue. We’re waiting.
Maybe ICE, not the Newport PD, should have arrested the nice young lady from Westport who was causing the ruckus at the Clark Cooke House? Video is available!
Westport being caring and inclusive should not trump (no pun intended) Federal Law set forth by The President of these United States. Yes, they should not be on local PD Property. However, the Feds should be able to do their jobs WITHOUT Local law enforcement impeding their jobs.
It’s a crime to enter a country illegally. Its a crime to get a false Soc Sec # or Tin# to work. It’s illegal for companies to hire knowing they’re illegal.
Oh … foreign nationals do NOT have U.S. Constitutional rights. Sanctuary Cities and States are falling apart. This is HOW Trump got in both times. The forgotten LEGAL U.S. Citizens that have been in America for centuries. We get overlooked because we don’t serve liberal narratives.
Diana, Looks like we both went to the same law school, and I didn’t go to law school. But your point of foreign nationals not having U.S. Constitutional rights seemed odd to me. And I didn’tr want to retain a lawyer to help me understnad the issue…So I asked ChatGPT to give me a response, which is below. Opinions are great, but facts are important. Any real lawyers care to comment? Is there anything in the below response which is factually incorrect?
Yes, foreign nationals do have U.S. constitutional rights, but the scope depends on the type of right and their circumstances. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Basic Constitutional Protections
Due Process & Equal Protection (5th & 14th Amendments): The Supreme Court has consistently held that “persons” under the Constitution includes non-citizens. Foreign nationals, even undocumented immigrants, are entitled to due process of law and equal protection when they are in the U.S.
Fourth Amendment (Search & Seizure): Applies to all people in the U.S., regardless of citizenship, protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures.
First Amendment (Speech, Religion, Assembly): Non-citizens in the U.S. have rights to free speech, religion, and assembly, though these can sometimes be restricted in the immigration context.
2. Criminal Rights
Fifth & Sixth Amendments: Foreign nationals accused of crimes have the right to remain silent, to a fair trial, to legal counsel, and to confront witnesses—just like U.S. citizens.
Eighth Amendment: Protection against cruel and unusual punishment applies universally.
3. Limits & Exceptions
Outside the U.S.: Constitutional protections generally don’t extend to foreign nationals abroad (with some exceptions where the U.S. exercises control, e.g., Guantánamo Bay cases like Boumediene v. Bush).
Immigration Context: Non-citizens do not have the same rights as citizens regarding entry into or presence in the U.S. The government has broad authority at the border to deny entry. But once inside the U.S., even unlawfully, many constitutional protections apply.
Voting, Public Office, Firearms: These are generally reserved to citizens (or in some cases, lawful permanent residents for local voting in limited jurisdictions).
4. Key Cases
Yick Wo v. Hopkins (1886): The 14th Amendment’s protections apply to all persons, not just citizens.
Plyler v. Doe (1982): Undocumented children are entitled to public education under the Equal Protection Clause.
Boumediene v. Bush (2008): Foreign detainees at Guantánamo Bay had a constitutional right to habeas corpus.
Summary:
Foreign nationals do have constitutional rights in the U.S., especially concerning due process, equal protection, and criminal defense. The main limits are in areas tied to citizenship (like voting) or when they are outside U.S. territory.
Consult AI on matters of existential importance!!!!
Of course!!!!
Esquire, please let me know how you would revise this. Thanks.
👍😘
Rape, sex trafficking, and fraud are crimes too. But whatevs! Get the brown people first, I guess. The orange ones, not so much?
Evidently, you are ignorant of the fact that it is absolutely legal, despite what you say, to enter this country if you are seeking asylum. Asylum seeks are not “illegal” or “illegals”, they ARE indeed following our laws.
This assumes you inform authorities at the time you seek asylum when you’re entering the country(?) Also, being a “work product” of drug/sex traffickers is a disqualifier, yes? No? Maybe?
That’s right Eric, you must declare your request for asylum and that you must present a bonafide reason why you are seeking asylum. What is being a “work product” of someone?
Hi Russ,
A “work product” is what is delivered to a recipient in exchange for compensation. A drug trafficker produces illegal drugs. A human trafficker delivers human beings. The people who pay them are usually in receipt of stolen (ill-gotten) goods. They are operating outside of the law. When ICE gets them it’s because they have circumvented the formality of declaring/requesting asylum from the dully constituted authority (DHS, ICE, USBP) which is why they qualify for deportation. Make sense? It’s all about whether or not you followed the law.
Like I said, requests for asylum must be legit and provable to some degree. I would imagine that the traffickers you referenced are a little too busy breaking laws to make a legitimate asylum request. That’s not who this discussion concerns.
Got it Bubba!!! My bad!!!
“Diana, Looks like we both went to the same law school, and I didn’t go to law school.” Best response ever.
Totally shocking that Tooker has no position on this… Does she not expect to need to answer this, or other MAGA positions, while running for Governor?
I asked for her response too. She said she would get back to me with a statement from herself and Police Chief Dave Farrell.
Conveniently missed from all the comments is the fact by localities refusing to cooperate with ICE and Federal law Enforcement detainers, allowing ICE to take custody of criminal illegals in a way that is safe for all parties, i.e. at police stations, courts, etc. they’ve left no choice for law enforcement but to take to the streets. In effect they’ve created the situation they’re complaining about. So if you’re upset at ICE agents on the street, call your local democratic representative and suggest they follow the law.
So then to clarify your position, Phillip, you are ok with masked people in military garb and unmarked vehicles tackling and tasing people in the streets indiscriminately?
Thank you Dan for this very informative post.
Fairfield County Connecticut is part of USA, all borders between towns, cities and states are mostly continuous, you cant harbour illegals in lower Fairfield County, CT without putting all of USA incl our legit int guests at risk.
And,
Why is anyone – especially someone running for public office – claiming his wife who’s an USA Citizen – borne in Italy but an USA Citizen – at risk of being targeted by ICE ?
ICE has over 6.7 MILLION UnDocumenteds to locate, ID and deport, i.e., Why does he think his wife is at risk of being deported by ICE ?
or,
is he ‘just’ ‘playing’ at expense of the reputations of ICE and ICE agents, and people who are forthright about the need to keep immigration into and throughout USA forthright?
We do forthwith and hereby, forevermore, acknowledge the lofty language straining to rise above your base and cruel ideas.
Everyone commenting is an illegal alien. Maybe ask the First Peoples before the racism spews out.
Maybe all the entitled kids who are so bored could start working many of these jobs as we did when we were in high school. Hustling in the restaurants, working in stores…and oh yes… cutting the grass.
I don’t know of any bored kids in high school. Their lives are packed with stuff. They work at camps. They take summer courses. They have summer reading for school, and required work for courses they’re going to take. They’re looking at colleges, and writing their essays. They’re going to sports ID camps, and training for their upcoming sports teams, or doing similar prep work for music, drama and dance. They volunteer for non-profits. I often say I am so glad I grew up when I did, because the pressures on kids today are enormous. They don’t have time to enjoy summers the way we did. They can’t be bored; they’re over-scheduled. And they can’t cut the grass because their parents don’t own lanwmowers.
RTM Members, I know this topic is less important than the Sunday Photo Challenge, but do any of you have an opinion on this topic? Commenting here seems like a perfect opportunity for you to let those you “Represent” know where you stand. Speak!
RTM Public Protection Committee members (aside from David Rosenwaks) your silence on this topic is quite disturbing.
District 3: Jimmy Izzo, Chair
District 6: Candace Banks
District 4: Andrew Colabella
District 4: Noah Hammond
District 5: Karen Kramer
District 9: Sal Liccione
District 5: Richard Lowenstein
District 2: Louis Mall
District 6: David Rosenwaks
District 6: Alma Sarelli
District 5: Claudia Shaum
Wow. That was not a good look. Surprised Dan didn’t pick it up. Certainly Westport Met the World in Newport.
She brought the boom to The Boom Boom Room, that’s for sure.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna225798
Maybe fellow Westporter Craig will cover it tomorrow.
Maybe he could get her side from the Bridge 🍸.
And this, from Newport’s underground blog: Westport, please come pick up your trash.