Strong Protections Against ICE & Local Scholars Honored

May 28, 2026

Here are the sections in today's email:

  • Strong Protections Against ICE
  • Waterbury Students Recognized
  • Join Me for a Food Drive at City Hall
  • Support for Our Dairy Farmers
 

Strong Protections Against ICE

The governor signed a bill into law holding federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), accountable if they disregard our constitutional rights.

Public Act 26-14 is a measured and lawful response to masked ICE agents, many inadequately trained, waging a campaign of fear and intimidation. This law aims to counter the unprecedented breakdown of due process and reestablish the rule of law that we have always come to expect from our federal law enforcement.

The legislation requires clear identification from federal agents and restricts their actions in sensitive polling locations.

Specifically, the law does the following:

  • Enables any person the right to sue federal actors who violate their constitutional rights
  • Allows federal agents to be prosecuted if they abuse their authority or otherwise violate people’s rights
  • Establishes protected spaces, such as hospitals, schools, court houses, places of worship, where federal agents cannot make immigration arrests unless they have a judicial warrant

No one is above the law, and Connecticut has the right to protect our constitutional values.
 

Waterbury Students Recognized
Three exceptional students from Waterbury were recognized at the 20th Annual Coqui Awards and Scholarships event hosted by the Hispanic Coalition. These young leaders received awards at Palace Theater in downtown Waterbury. They exemplify the dedication and hard work happening in our classrooms every day.

I am proud that each of these students is a member of the Young Representatives of Waterbury, a program at Madre Latina that I am honored to sponsor. This initiative empowers young Latino students to develop their voices, strengthen leadership skills, and make a meaningful impact in our community.

It is inspiring to see the next generation of Latino students rise, achieve, and lead. Their determination reminds us that the future of Waterbury is full of promise.

I would also like to recognize Dan Rezende, President and CEO of CJR, for his unwavering support to young people and their families, and Hilda Batista and her late husband Joaquin for winning the Pioneers of the Year Award, for their decades of dedicated service in Waterbury. Your leadership, compassion, and advocacy have made a meaningful difference. Thank you for being pillars of the community!

Dan Rezende, President & CEO of CJR

Hilda Batista, Pioneer of the Year
 

Join Me for a Food Drive at City Hall

Please join me and the rest of the Waterbury Legislative Delegation at a community food drive on Saturday, May 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the front steps of Waterbury City Hall. 

Our partners at St. Vincent DePaul will collect essential pantry items including: 

  • sugar
  • coffee
  • pasta sauce
  • stuffing
  • instant mashed potatoes

Your generosity will support local families facing food insecurity. I hope you will join us on Saturday, May 30!
 

Support for Our Dairy Farmers

The state is committing $22.5 million from our Federal Cuts Response Fund to support Connecticut’s dairy farmers. Many small, family-owned businesses, including those in the Naugatuck Valley, are working hard to stay afloat amid federally set milk prices that often favor large corporate operations over our local farms.
 
This investment will help protect jobs and ensure our communities continue to have access to fresh, nutritious, and locally produced food. When we support our farmers, we strengthen our food supply chain and our economy at the same time.

I was proud to support the creation of the Federal Cuts Response Fund during a special session last year to help stabilize Connecticut’s economy in the face of federal uncertainty. This is exactly why we established the fund.