Sanctuary Policies and Federalism

The Justice Department has sued the state of Connecticut and the city of New Haven, recently announcing legal action against state officials including Governor Ned Lamont and Attorney General William Tong, along with New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, over policies the DOJ says function as sanctuary rules that obstruct federal immigration enforcement. The suit targets the Connecticut Trust Act and local practices that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arguing those policies prevent honoring ICE detainers and therefore interfere with federal authority. The DOJ’s move follows publicized incidents cited by critics — most prominently a February 2026 ICE arrest of Christian Espinosa‑Sarango, an Ecuadorian national convicted of child sexual abuse who was reportedly released from a Connecticut jail despite an ICE detainer — which the department and supporters cite as evidence of risks tied to noncooperation.