HARTFORD, Conn – The state of Connecticut recently established a new policy that prevents ICE agents from warrantless trespassing. 

Governor Ned Lamont, along with Supreme Court Justice Raheem Mulins, attended a briefing at the state capital to announce a series of changes to the security at state courthouses. This is in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in courthouses, with the most ridiculous example being when a group of masked ICE agents reportedly stormed a courthouse and, despite a judicial marshal telling them not to pass and asking them to present a warrant. The agents still broke down a bathroom door and detained two men inside.

Naturally, many students have opinions about both ICE and the policy.

“It’s ridiculous and unfair to the people being detained,” said Nathan Johnson, a senior at Fitch. 

A state courthouse should be one of the safest places that you can feel as a citizen. You should never feel as if you could be at risk of physical harm when in a government facility. However, when agents of the federal government storm into a courthouse with no warrants to do so. To apprehend and detain two individuals raises questions about how safe you really are. 

Many students feel that this policy is an improvement over what has happened so far.

“It’s better that they are using warrants,” said an anonymous student. “But what ICE is doing is still unfair, and ICE will probably bypass them anyway.” 

This new policy was essentially a request to ICE to respect state courthouses and to face legislative action if they were to trespass. Or if they decide to wear masks or take actions that are borderline breaching the peace, like they have been doing.