General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7211 proposes amendments to Section 54-192h of the general statutes concerning civil immigration detainers for individuals charged with serious crimes. The bill introduces new definitions such as "administrative warrant," "civil immigration detainer," and "ICE access," while clarifying the roles of law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. A significant change is the prohibition of arrests or detentions based on civil immigration detainers by law enforcement officers, bail commissioners, and school security personnel unless the individual is charged with a Class A, B, or C felony or a family violence crime, following a probable cause finding. The bill also removes previous provisions that allowed detainment based on a judicial officer's warrant or matches in the federal Terrorist Screening Database.

Additionally, the legislation mandates that law enforcement agencies provide individuals subject to a civil immigration detainer with a copy of the detainer and inform them of their intent to comply. It requires that all records related to ICE access maintained by law enforcement be considered public records under the Freedom of Information Act, promoting transparency. The bill emphasizes the need for training for law enforcement and school security personnel on interactions with crime victims and suspects. Importantly, it clarifies that no provisions expand the authority of law enforcement to detain individuals solely based on civil immigration detainer requests, except for those charged with serious offenses. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 54-192h