Statement on ICE Arrests, Honoring Juneteenth, and more

June 13, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday - I hope you've had a great week.

I wanted to share a statement I made earlier this week regarding the ICE arrest of a New Haven woman in front of her children:

I am heartbroken and furious about what is happening in our community. ICE agents cornered a mother as she brought her children to school, arrested her in front of them, and are now holding her indefinitely.

Tragically, this is not an isolated incident. The Trump administration is conducting a campaign of intimidation and cruelty — designed to sow fear and uncertainty in our communities. They are separating families, traumatizing children, and denying due process, all under the false pretense of ‘keeping our communities safer.’

A world where mothers taking their children to school are treated as criminals — and ICE agents in unmarked cars arresting parents in front of their children are seen as protectors — is not the world we stand for.

Our communities deserve better. Residents across New Haven, Connecticut, and the country know this, and we must not back down. In fact, we must fight back harder than ever before.

I will continue doing everything in my power to defend our neighbors and fight back against these cruel policies. New Haven always has been — and always will be — a welcoming city for immigrants.

In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about the new Puerto Rican/Connecticut Trade Commission, Juneteenth celebrations, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.

Honoring Juneteenth
Happy Father's Day!
The Connecticut-Puerto Rican Trade Commission
Major Decrease in Overdose Deaths in CT
Text Message Scam Involving the DMV
Connecticut Open House Day
CT State Library's Suggested Summer Reading List

Honoring Juneteenth

Thursday, June 19 is Juneteenth. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in our country. For many years, this important holiday was primarily celebrated in the South, but was unknown to others from the rest of the country. However, thanks to great advocacy work, it is now rightfully observed throughout the country, including Connecticut. In 2022, the Connecticut General Assembly voted to make Juneteenth a state holiday.

Contrary to popular belief, the Emancipation Proclamation did not end the practice of slavery in America. It also did not end at the conclusion of the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, 2 months after the Civil War ended, a group of Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas and announced that all enslaved people were now free. They were among the last group of Americans to be notified of their freedom.

Although Juneteenth celebrates a momentous event in our history, we must also take time to reflect on the horrors of slavery and its lingering effects on our society. As your state representative, I will continue to push for legislation that will make Connecticut a better state for all. If you have any questions about Juneteenth, its history, and how it has been celebrated around the country, please check out this page from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

In New Haven, the city is hosting a huge celebration next Saturday, June 21, from noon to 6pm at Dixwell "Q" House, 197 Dixwell Ave. There will be a health and wellness clinic, vendors, education support, history and culture exhibits, arts and crafts, a basketball tournament and more. Visit here for more information.

The International Festival of the Arts is also hosting a Juneteenth Jamboree on Friday, June 20. Visit here for more information.

Happy Father's Day!

This Father's Day, I want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, and father figures who play such an important role in our families and our community.

Being a father is not just about providing -- it's about showing up. It's about guidance, patience, and unconditional love. Whether it's helping with homework, cheering from the sidelines, or simply being there to listen -- your presence matters deeply.

Here in New Haven, I've seen firsthand the dedication of so many hardworking dads who do everything they can to support their children and strengthen our neighborhoods. Your efforts do not go unnoticed.

To those who are remembering a father today, or spending this day without your children, please know my thoughts are with you as well.

Wishing all the incredible fathers and father figures in our community a peaceful, joyful, and well-deserved Father's Day.

The Connecticut-Puerto Rican Trade Commission

I was so proud to join my legislative colleagues and Governor Lamont this week to celebrate the signing of a bill establishing the Connecticut-Puerto Rican Trade Commission.

According to a press release from Gov. Lamont: "The 23-member commission, which will begin meeting this fall, will be responsible for developing and recommending policy and legislative changes that advance bilateral trade and investment between Connecticut and Puerto Rico, while also promoting business and academic exchanges, encouraging mutual economic support and infrastructure investment, and initiating joint action on policy issues of mutual interest."

Through this bill, we will expand commerce on the island of Puerto Rico and in the state of Connecticut. There are many businesses we are currently working with in Puerto Rico, but we need to increase that number even further.

As Latinos and Connecticut residents, this is an amazing opportunity to transform the commerce between Puerto Rico and our state, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

You can watch my full remarks on the bill here!

Major Decrease in Overdose Deaths in CT

Connecticut’s Opioid Services Division was established in 2018 in response to the growing overdose crisis and to expand statewide access to the prevention of opioid use disorder, opioid treatment, recovery support, harm reduction, outreach, engagement, and overdose prevention coverage with a focus on overdose deaths. This marks the third consecutive year of decreases of statewide overdose deaths.

The division manages projects and initiatives that resulted from infusion of State Opioid Response grant funding as well as those approved by the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. Some of 2024’s improvements include:

Expanded innovative services in the state, adding three and continuing to support original Harm Reduction Centers in municipalities with highest morbidity rates: Hartford, Waterbury, New Haven, and New London
Added outreach services via Peer Navigator Programs in two areas of the state;
Distributed close to 60,000 naloxone kits (naloxone is a lifesaving, overdose reversal medication), exceeding the state saturation goal for the year.
Hosted a successful and informative Harm Reduction Conference. The conference included four expert speakers from around the country, as well as two panel discussions, focused on addressing equity, and stigma, 390 individuals attended the conference: 263 in person and 127 virtually.

While we are heartened to see data going in the right direction, we know there is much more work to do to fight this public health crisis. Our hearts are heavy for the 990 individuals who lost their lives to overdose in 2024 and their loved ones whose lives have been forever altered. We remain steadfast in our mission to expand access and availability of life-saving medication, public education, harm reduction, treatment and recovery supports until no lives are lost to drug overdose.

Additional information is available on the DMHAS Opioid Services Division website at portal.ct.gov/dmhas/programs-and-services/opioid-treatment/opioid-services.

Anyone seeking services regarding opioid use disorder in Connecticut should visit www.liveloud.org or call 1-800-563-4086 any time, day or night.

Text Message Scam Involving the DMV

Connecticut State Police are warning all of us of a new text message scam involving a phony traffic ticket. The criminals pretend to be with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles and claim the recipient has an outstanding traffic ticket that must be paid immediately.

If you receive a text like the one below, DO NOT click on the link. It leads to a fraudulent website where your personal and financial information can be stolen.

Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to avoid being a victim of these types of scams:

Do not respond to the text or click any links. State DMVs would not ask for your information or money by text.
If you think the message might be real, contact your state's DMV using a trusted phone number or website.
Copy the text message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This will help your wireless provider spot and block similar messages.
Report the text on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
Report the text to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and/or file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

If you did click the link and experienced a financial loss, please contact local law enforcement as soon as possible.

Connecticut Open House Day

Connecticut Open House Day, now in its 21st year, is set to take place on Saturday, June 14. Held annually on the second Saturday of June, this statewide event invites residents to explore Connecticut’s rich array of cultural, historical, and recreational attractions right in their own backyard. The hope is that this event will convert CT residents into ambassadors who will recommend these experiences by enhancing awareness and interest in the state's tourism to other visitors.

By offering free or reduced admission and exclusive access to rarely opened sites, Connecticut hopes that this event will spark something in its residents and convert them into ambassadors who will recommend these experiences to other visitors. There is a lot to offer and Connecticut tourism is open for all to enjoy!

Click here to find the list of businesses taking part.

CT State Library's Suggested Summer Reading List

Our libraries have a lot of books, and through resource sharing, we have access to even more books! For the first time, the CT State Library is offering a Suggested Summer Reading List for all grade levels.

The Suggested Summer Reading list has been compiled around this year's theme, Level up at Your Library, an all ages summer reading program. The suggested list is just that, suggested! The list has been created with accessibility in mind and it's a guidance that matches the age breakdowns and number of titles as the Department of Education reading challenge lists.

Click here to access the list.