Larson and Tong Condemn Trump Administration List Targeting Congressman Larson and Immigrant Advocates Over Criticism of ICE Abuses

Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) and Attorney General William Tong responded to the Trump Department of Homeland Security's statementtargeting Rep. Larson and immigrant advocates for speaking out against ICE's abusive tactics - including recent raids in Newington and Southington, Connecticut. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to defending constitutional rights and holding the Trump Administration accountable for its attacks on free speech and civil liberties.

"Trump's masked ICE agents took workers from Newington and Southington without notifying local officials - even tearing two mothers from their children," said Larson. "Now, he is attacking me for defending them. This comes from a president who freed violent insurrectionists that assaulted and killed police, while he weaponizes the government against immigrant families and his political enemies. Decades fighting this type of authoritarianism taught me this: when government terrorizes communities, representatives can stand up or stand aside. I stand up. Always have. Always will."

"This report is reckless, and this kind of irresponsible tagging of political enemies needs to stop before someone else is shot. We have to do better. But if I know one thing about John Larson, he will not be silenced. He's going to keep speaking up-loudly-to call out wrongs when they occur, to defend our rights and our democracy, and to protect Connecticut families. And he's going to do that with his voice and his votes, and it is incumbent upon all of us to see and know the difference between forceful and necessary democratic protest and bloodshed," said Tong.

Following an ICE raid in Newington, Rep. Larson called on Congress to pass the No Secret Police Act, to require ICE agents to identify themselves and bar them from wearing masks, and the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, to prevent ICE raids at schools, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship. He also joined a group of his Democratic colleagues to launch a probeinto ICE detention of service members, veterans, and military families.

After the Supreme Court cleared the waylast week for federal immigration authorities to make indiscriminate stops based on ethnicity, language, and other factors, Larson and a group of his colleagues introduced the Home Together Actto block the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from sharing records with ICE and other immigration enforcement agencies, including home addresses and ethnicities.