New Haven Officials Testify for Senate Bill 91 as ICE Concerns Reshape Schools

New Haven Officials Testify for Senate Bill 91 as ICE Concerns Reshape City Schools

Hundreds of people testified before the Connecticut Judiciary Committee on March 10, 2026, in support of Senate Bill 91, a measure proposed by Governor Ned Lamont that would restrict federal immigration enforcement in schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, and houses of worship.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, Superintendent of Schools Madeline Negrón, and a New Haven high school student named Dulce were among those who appeared before the committee. Teachers from New Haven Public Schools also submitted written testimony describing students missing school and families struggling with the detention of parents.

The hearing followed by five days the firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem by President Trump on March 5. Representative Rosa DeLauro, whose congressional district includes New Haven, responded to Noem's departure with a statement calling her tenure "perhaps the most corrupt chapter in the short history of the Department of Homeland Security." DeLauro cited Noem's alleged misuse of $170 million in Coast Guard funds for private jet travel and more than $200 million in advertising contracts directed to a former staffer's family business.

What Senate Bill 91 Would Do

Senate Bill 91 would establish "protected areas" where federal officers — including ICE agents — could not conduct civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. Designated protected areas include schools, healthcare facilities, homeless shelters, and houses of worship.

The bill would also give Connecticut's Inspector General new authority to investigate use-of-force incidents by federal law enforcement operating on state soil, creating a state-level oversight mechanism for federal enforcement activity.

New Haven's Testimony

Mayor Elicker's appearance before the committee reflected New Haven's position as a sanctuary city and his administration's stated commitment to protecting immigrant residents from federal enforcement actions.

Superintendent Negrón told the committee that New Haven Public Schools had documented a drop in multilingual learner enrollment, attributing it to fear among immigrant families about immigration enforcement activity. She did not provide specific figures during the hearing.

Student Dulce testified about the anxiety immigrant youth face daily — describing how the prospect of deportation affects concentration in school, attendance, and family stability.

Enrollment Decline Reflects Broader Trend

The enrollment concerns Negrón raised align with patterns observed in cities across the country following periods of heightened immigration enforcement. New Haven Public Schools serves a large population of multilingual learners from Central American, Caribbean, and other immigrant communities.

A report by the New Haven Independent published March 11 described a "chilling effect" in New Haven schools — a pattern in which fear of immigration enforcement deters families from routine contact with public institutions including schools and hospitals, even when those families have no pending enforcement actions against them.

Bill's Status

Senate Bill 91 was before the Connecticut Judiciary Committee as of March 10. Supporters at the hearing included faith leaders and advocates from organizations including CT Students for a Dream, Husky 4 Immigrants, and Comunidades Sin Fronteras. The hearing drew attendance from communities across Connecticut, not only New Haven.

The bill must clear a committee vote before advancing to the full Senate. Its ultimate passage would depend on the full legislature and would not supersede federal law, but would establish state-level protections and oversight mechanisms that advocates say could limit the frequency and manner of ICE operations in sensitive community spaces.

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