(HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT) More than 1,000 people are expected to march in Hartford, Connecticut, on Monday, October 6, 2025, urging state leaders to hold a special legislative session focused on immigrant protections. Organizers say the event will start with a vigil at the Federal Building on Main Street around 11 a.m., continue in a march to the north side of the State Capitol Building, and end with a rally just after noon.
The call is directed at Gov. Ned Lamont and state lawmakers, as advocates press for fast action on data privacy, access to justice, health coverage, and limits on state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Who’s marching and why
The march brings together faith leaders, community groups, and immigrant rights advocates who argue the stakes are immediate and local. They say state-level action can help shield residents from harmful spillover effects of federal policies.
This push comes days after changes to Connecticut’s Trust Act took effect on October 1, 2025. Those revisions allow migrants to sue state or local police departments for violations tied to cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Supporters describe the change as a key accountability tool and a clear boundary on unauthorized collaboration.
Organizers plan to keep the message tight and practical. They want lawmakers to act in a special session, not wait for the regular legislative calendar. Their list of proposed protections is concrete: protect personal data, keep courts open to everyone regardless of status, bar state agencies from assisting federal immigration arrests, and maintain HUSKY health coverage without new status-based limits.
Policy context and legal changes
Connecticut’s revised Trust Act is central to the marchers’ message. Effective October 1, 2025, the law gives migrants a right to sue when local or state police cooperate with ICE in ways the law does not allow. Supporters say this change will deter improper information sharing or detention holds that can pull residents into the federal deportation system.
Legal advocates emphasize that when families fear going to court, calling the police, or entering public buildings, public safety suffers. The new legal remedy is designed to build trust, especially in mixed-status households.
The rally’s timing also highlights who lives and works in Connecticut today:
- Immigrants make up about 15% of the state’s population.
- Over the last 15 years they have helped drive both population and workforce growth.
- About 30% of children in Connecticut are part of immigrant families.
Those figures frame the debate: immigrant protections, supporters say, are not a niche issue—they touch classrooms, workplaces, hospitals, and neighborhoods across the state.
Specific risks and policy priorities
Organizers point to specific risks they want lawmakers to address. Their priorities include:
- Safeguard personal data: Limit collection, storage, and sharing of sensitive information that could expose immigration status.
- Courthouse access for all: Ensure people can attend hearings, seek restraining orders, serve as witnesses, or pay fines without status-based fear.
- Prevent state assistance to federal immigration enforcement: Stop state agencies from assisting federal arrests or information-sharing that go beyond state law.
- Maintain HUSKY health coverage: Preserve access to Connecticut’s Medicaid program without new immigration-based barriers.
More information on HUSKY eligibility and benefits is available through the state’s official site at HUSKY Health (CT.gov).
What organizers are demanding at the Capitol
At the steps of the Capitol, speakers plan to emphasize four pillars of action:
- Protect personal data
- Limit collection, storage, and sharing of sensitive information that could expose immigration status.
- Guarantee courthouse access
- Ensure all residents can enter and use court services, regardless of status.
- Set clear limits on state cooperation with ICE
- Prevent unauthorized requests, detainers, or information sharing that conflict with state law.
- Keep HUSKY coverage in place
- Maintain access to affordable care for eligible residents without adding immigration-based barriers.
Faith leaders and community organizers say these steps would steady families who might otherwise avoid schools, hospitals, and courts. They argue the measures would also help small businesses that rely on a stable workforce.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, interest in state-level safeguards has grown as communities try to reduce the fear and confusion that can flow from federal enforcement shifts.
Symbolism and event logistics
The march route—from the Federal Building on Main Street to the north side of the State Capitol—carries symbolism. Advocates say it represents moving from federal presence to state responsibility.
- A brief vigil at 11 a.m. will open the day.
- The march will then proceed to the Capitol.
- The event will end with a rally just after noon featuring immigrant workers, parents, and clergy.
Organizers say the mix of a daytime vigil, a march, and a midday rally aims to bring families, workers, and students to the Capitol steps at a time they can attend.
Why advocates say prompt action matters
Backers of a special session say quick action is warranted because local policies can change daily life. Examples they give:
- A parent deciding whether to testify in family court may need clear rules that prohibit civil immigration arrests at or near courthouses.
- A worker might report wage theft if they trust police won’t share personal details beyond what the law allows.
- A college student may seek preventive care if their HUSKY coverage is stable.
Supporters argue these choices shape safety, health, and fairness for everyone, not just noncitizens.
Business and labor voices are expected to underscore the workforce angle. With immigrants helping grow the labor pool, they argue steady access to health care and courts keeps people working and reduces disruptions that can ripple across supply chains.
Public health advocates note that when coverage is consistent, residents are more likely to get vaccines and routine care—which benefits the broader community.
The broader legal and political debate
The policy debate taps into long-running questions about the role of states. Connecticut is not setting federal immigration rules. Instead, supporters say the state is deciding how its own agencies, courts, and databases operate within state boundaries.
By limiting data sharing and defining when local police can interact with ICE, the state can set practices it believes best serve public safety and community trust.
Opponents of stronger limits sometimes argue that information sharing is necessary to catch dangerous offenders. Advocates respond that Connecticut’s approach:
- Draws lines that focus on serious crime
- Prevents broad sweeps that pull in law-abiding residents
- Uses the new ability to sue over violations as a tool to push departments to train officers, review policies, and document decisions
“The new legal remedy is designed to build trust, especially in mixed-status households.”
— Legal advocates (paraphrased from organizers’ statements)
Next steps and organizer demands for the legislature
Monday’s march is a test of how fast the legislature may move this fall. Organizers say they will keep pressure on through testimony, district meetings, and continued coalition work with faith congregations.
Their immediate asks of lawmakers include:
- Set dates for a special legislative session
- Publish bill text early so communities can review proposals
- Meet with affected community groups before finalizing policy
- Provide clear public guidance for agencies, including:
- Training for staff
- Privacy policies
- Multilingual outreach so residents know their rights and can use public services without fear
As the crowd gathers on Main Street, the message will be direct: immigrant protections are about daily life, not abstract debates. Organizers say they will keep showing up until the policies match the realities families face across the state.
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This Article in a Nutshell
On October 6, 2025, over 1,000 people will march in Hartford to press Gov. Ned Lamont and state legislators to call a special session focused on immigrant protections. The demonstration begins with an 11 a.m. vigil at the Federal Building and proceeds to a noon rally at the State Capitol. Organizers — faith leaders, community groups and immigrant-rights advocates — seek concrete measures: safeguard personal data, guarantee courthouse access regardless of immigration status, bar state agencies from assisting federal immigration arrests or information-sharing beyond state law, and preserve HUSKY health coverage without new status-based limits. The march follows changes to the Connecticut Trust Act effective October 1, 2025, which grant migrants the right to sue state or local police for unauthorized cooperation with ICE. Supporters say these measures will protect families, sustain workforce stability, and build trust so residents can access health care, schools, and courts without fear. Organizers ask lawmakers to set special-session dates, publish bill text early, and meet affected communities while providing clear agency guidance, training, and multilingual outreach to ensure effective implementation.
