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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have been showing up at the nation’s courthouses seeking immigrants about to appear for court dates. Dan Barrett, the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, calls this development “very worrisome.”
“They are becoming aware of when people have court dates,” Barrett stated during an appearance on WNHH radio’s “Legal Eagle” program. In Connecticut, he has not yet heard of ICE going into a courthouse or into a courtroom. Rather, he said, ICE officials typically corral someone outside the building.
How does ICE know when and where a particular defendant will show up outside the courthouse? Is it from the police?
Barrett said in Connecticut ICE is getting information about a particular person from COLLECT, a registry that lists a variety of information from the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Corrections and the court docket. ICE officials are also learning about outstanding warrants and the sex and pistol registry lists from COLLECT.
“Connecticut has made COLLECT available on an as-need basis,” he said.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has told police chiefs across the state that they do not have to cooperate with federal ICE officials to detain immigrants. Why is the state giving ICE these records?
Barrett said the Department of Emergencies Services is run by the state police and comes under the purview of the executive branch. He said he has so far only seen a single document. “As far as I am aware ICE has unfettered access and they pay for it.”
The decision to provide ICE with data, Barrett said, is not an accident. “They decided to do it.” And, he added, “They are still doing it.”
Click on or download the above audio file to listen to the full WNHH radio interview, which includes a discussion about President Trump’s immigration policies and their impact on residents.
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