Tong said the state had exercised its right to pass laws "that prioritize public safety and ensure that all people can trust and rely on law enforcement to keep us safe." He called the federal suit "a baseless lawsuit that has no foundation in law or fact" and said the administration was "wasting federal resources on attacking Connecticut."
The attorney general disputed the characterization of Connecticut as a sanctuary jurisdiction. "Connecticut is not a 'sanctuary' state, whatever that means," Tong said. "This term is meaningless and has no basis in Connecticut law."
Lamont said the state would "defend Connecticut's laws vigorously against the complaints outlined in the federal government's lawsuit," arguing the Trust Act and related policies are "consistent with the Constitution."
The governor framed the dispute as one of federalism. "Our laws do not prevent federal authorities from enforcing immigration law," Lamont said. "Rather, they reflect a longstanding principle: the federal government cannot require states to use their personnel or resources to carry out federal enforcement responsibilities."
Elicker defended New Haven's Welcoming City executive order, calling it "a legally sound policy that is compliant with all local, state and federal law." He said the city remained "committed to arresting" anyone who commits a violent crime "regardless of their immigration status."
The mayor said the DOJ filing "contains inaccuracies and untruths about New Haven's Welcoming City executive order," without specifying which allegations he disputed.
The release does not include the text of the DOJ complaint or identify the specific claims or court in which the suit was filed.