County Fight Active-Litigation

Connecticut — DOJ Sues Over Mask Ban / ICE ID Law (2nd CT suit)

Hartford, CT FIPS 09003

Current status: Gov. Lamont signed the law May 4, 2026 (formerly SB 397), banning federal agents from wearing masks in CT, requiring identification (name tag or badge number), establishing 'protected areas' (schools, hospitals, social-service facilities, houses of worship) where civil arrests are barred, and giving the state inspector general jurisdiction over ICE use of lethal force. DOJ sued CT, Lamont, and AG Tong on May 18, 2026 — the SECOND federal suit against CT in 2026, distinct from the April 14 sanctuary/TRUST Act suit. Tong vowed a 'vigorous' defense; Lamont said he saw no settlement coming.

The Fight

On May 4, 2026, Gov. Ned Lamont signed into law a bill (the measure formerly known as SB 397) curbing ICE conduct in Connecticut. Under the banner “We Are All Minneapolis,” the law:

Bans federal agents from wearing masks during operations in CT and requires them to be clearly identified by name tag or badge number (violation is a Class D misdemeanor).
Establishes “protected areas” — schools, hospitals, social-service agency facilities, and houses of worship — where people cannot be arrested solely on a civil offense (such as an immigration violation); bans warrantless arrests there.
Asserts the state inspector general’s jurisdiction to review ICE use of lethal force, as with local police.
Makes federal agencies liable when officers interfere with someone photographing/recording an officer on duty.

On May 18, 2026, the U.S. DOJ filed a federal lawsuit against the State of Connecticut, Gov. Lamont, and AG William Tong, arguing the law unconstitutionally obstructs and discriminates against federal immigration enforcement. This is the second DOJ suit against CT in 2026 — separate from the April 14, 2026 suit over the TRUST Act and New Haven’s sanctuary EO (see: connecticut-new-haven-doj-sanctuary-lawsuit).

Why It Matters

The mask/ID law is part of a newer wave of state laws (vs. the older detainer-refusal model) aimed at the tactics of masked, unidentified ICE arrests that drew national attention in Minneapolis and elsewhere. Connecticut is now fighting the DOJ on two legal fronts simultaneously — detainer refusal (TRUST Act) and agent conduct (mask/ID) — making it the lead test case for both. The May 18 Hartford courthouse arrest, in which several unidentified, masked agents took a man on Lafayette Street, was an early real-world flashpoint for the new law.

Key Actors

Gov. Ned Lamont — signed the law; defendant; said he foresaw no settlement
AG William Tong — vowed “vigorous” defense; defendant
U.S. DOJ — plaintiff in both CT suits

Sources

This research is published at The RAMM — investigative reporting on the detention pipeline.

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