02/01/2026
The Portland Democratic Town Committee supports the removal of violent criminals who are in our country illegally. Protecting public safety is a serious and often dangerous responsibility, and law enforcement officers who carry out that mission professionally and lawfully deserve our respect.
What we are witnessing now in Minneapolis and in communities across the country, however, goes far beyond that original goal.
Reports from multiple cities describe immigration enforcement actions that rely on broad street sweeps, racial profiling, and warrantless detentions, sometimes involving U.S. citizens and legal residents—without meaningful due process. These actions undermine public trust, endanger innocent people, and erode the constitutional protections that safeguard every American, regardless of political affiliation.
In Minneapolis, recent fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents have raised urgent questions about accountability, use of force, and the scope of federal authority. Nationwide, dozens of individuals have died while in ICE custody in the past year alone making this one of the deadliest periods for the agency in more than two decades. These are not abstract concerns; they involve real people, families, and communities.
We believe it is possible, and necessary, to uphold immigration law and the Constitution at the same time. What is happening now is not targeted enforcement against violent offenders. It is a pattern of conduct that raises serious concerns under the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments, principles many of us first learned about in Portland classrooms and have relied on ever since.
As Governor Ned Lamont stated earlier this year following the killing of a U.S. citizen by an ICE agent, these actions are “unnecessary and unjustifiable” and reflect a broader trend of armed, masked enforcement that has terrorized communities and disregarded basic constitutional values. We share that concern.
Here in Connecticut, lawmakers are taking steps to respond. Local Senate Democrats are proposing legislation to strengthen state civil rights protections by closing a loophole that currently prevents residents from holding federal officials accountable when constitutional rights are violated. Accountability should not depend on the badge someone wears.
We also support efforts in Congress to pause or condition Department of Homeland Security funding until these incidents are fully investigated, those responsible are held accountable, and clear compliance with constitutional standards is restored.
This is not a partisan issue. It is a rule-of-law issue.
No agency, no official, and no level of government is above the Constitution. When rights are ignored for some, they are endangered for all. As Connecticut residents, neighbors, and parents, we believe our country can and must do better.
Portland Democratic Town Committee
Portland, CT
