Poor Public Policy Causes Chaos

The crisis we’re dealing with today is the direct result of a Democratic “open‑border” policy approach overwhelmed local communities, and Connecticut made that problem worse by passing sanctuary‑state laws like the Trust Act. You cannot open the border and then block local police from cooperating with federal enforcement, that is how you create chaos at the local level.

Danbury once had a smarter system. Under Mayor Mark Boughton, the city signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ICE that struck the right balance. Our police did not participate in ICE operations, but they had access to ICE databases, criminal‑offender information, and advance notice of enforcement actions. That agreement gave Danbury situational awareness without entanglement. It kept our police informed, prepared, and able to protect residents.

The Trust Act wiped that out. It shuts down communication, blocks information‑sharing, and prevents local departments from honoring detainers except in extremely narrow cases. Now ICE operates in Danbury with no notice to local law enforcement. That’s not “trust.” That’s leaving our police blind.

And instead of addressing the root problem, Mayor Alves, Chairman of the State Democratic party has taken the wrong approach by publicly saying he will do everything he can to “protect” people here illegally. That only deepens division in the community. It sends the message that the city will shield people from federal law rather than confront the policy failures that created this crisis. It does nothing to fix the underlying problem, it simply fuels more confusion, more anger, and more distrust.

The contrast is clear: Boughton’s MOA gave Danbury intelligence, clarity, and a workable system. The Trust Act, combined with the mayor’s current posture gives us blind spots, mixed signals, and greater division. One approach strengthened public safety; the other undermines it. If we want a safer, more united city, we need to stop pretending the sanctuary‑state model is working. The MOA was better, and the policies replacing it have only made the problem worse.