The United States Justice Department is giving Connecticut and other so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions” until Tuesday of next week to explain how they intend to eliminate any impediments to federal immigration enforcement.
United States Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter, dated Aug. 13, to Gov. Ned Lamont and Attorney General William Tong days after the U.S. Justice Department released a list of 35 states, cities and counties identified as being “sanctuary jurisdictions.”
“You are hereby notified that your jurisdiction has been identified as one that engages in sanctuary policies and practices that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of the interests of the United States. This ends now. By Tuesday, August 19, 2025, please submit a response to this letter that confirms your commitment to complying with federal law and identifies the immediate initiatives you are taking to eliminate laws, policies, and practices that impede federal immigration enforcement. This letter does not constitute final agency action and nothing in this letter creates any right or benefit enforceable at law against the United States,” the letter states,” Bondi wrote.
She said that individuals using their official position to “obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts and facilitating or inducing illegal immigration” could be subject to criminal charges.
And she has instructed each U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate incidents involving potential unlawful conduct and prosecute violations of federal laws.
Tong said the federal department “falsely” identified Connecticut as a sanctuary jurisdiction.
“I can confirm that the Office of the Attorney General did receive a letter from Attorney General Bondi falsely stating that Connecticut engages in ‘sanctuary policies.’ There is nothing in our laws or statutes that says Connecticut is a ‘sanctuary’ state. We are not.” Tong wrote.
“Trump’s own administration certified Connecticut’s compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373 in 2017. Nothing has changed to alter that certification, and we will explain that in our response. Any claim or suggestion that Connecticut has violated or is not in compliance with federal law is false. Connecticut is prepared to pursue all legal rights and remedies to defend our sovereignty and the people and families of Connecticut from federal overreach,” Tong said in a statement.
“Sanctuary jurisdictions”
These are the states, cities and counties on the U.S. Justice Department list:
States
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Illinois
Minnesota
Nevada
New York
Oregon
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington
Counties
Baltimore County, MD
Cook County, IL
San Diego County, CA
San Francisco County, CA
Cities
Albuquerque, NM
Berkeley, CA
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL
Denver, CO
East Lansing, MI
Hoboken, NJ
Jersey City, NJ
Los Angeles, CA
New Orleans, LA
New York City, NY
Newark, NJ
Paterson, NJ
Philadelphia, PA
Portland, OR
Rochester, NY
Seattle, WA
San Francisco City, CA