Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont made news during a broadcast interview with CNBC, announcing his preparedness to send the state’s National Guard to assist at the US-Mexico border.
Lamont underlined the scope of the immigration crisis, claiming that it affects states other than those generally identified with frontline border issues, such as Connecticut.
“It is in every one of our backyards. I see what it is doing to our country. They have to secure the border. I tell President Biden that we will deploy the Connecticut Guard down to assist you if that is what is required to complete the task,” Lamont stated.
One local advocate believes the governor could refocus his focus on immigration issues in his own state.
“Lamont has a duty to also protect his community here in Connecticut, and he should be more focused on reinvesting the resources that Connecticut has in his constituency,” said Barbara Lopez, executive director of the immigrant rights nonprofit Make the Road Connecticut.
“One of the things he could be focusing his energy on is the expansion of Husky for all regarding their immigration status,” Lopez went on to say.
In response to Lamont’s recent comments on the border, a representative for his office stated that he has not heard of any complaints from immigrant community leaders.
The chat comes as Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut has created a heated debate with his bill on national security and immigration. The plan failed to clear the Senate on Wednesday, amid rising tensions between Republicans and Democrats over the management of migrant crossings at the southern border.
While Murphy’s proposal sought to address issues about immigration policy, many people and organizations, including those in Connecticut, have expressed worries. Some warned that the bill will worsen hurdles for refugees seeking refuge, complicating an already controversial subject.
“Our immigrant communities here in Connecticut will be fearful of their families being separated, will be fearful of going to work or to school, deportation proceedings will be quicker, and there won’t be access to supporting our immigrant communities,” Lopez said in a statement.
The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) believes that there are approximately 113,000 unauthorized immigrants in Connecticut.
“The vast majority of the people who come here want to learn the language and begin working,” said Anka Badurina, executive director of Building One Community, a program that was formed to assist undocumented day laborers in Stamford.
Badurina stated that her company treated over 4,700 people last year.
“The vast majority of those people have lived here for a long time. “Yes, there are some new arrivals in the United States,” she added.
According to US Customs and Border Protection, approximately 3 million enforcement interactions with aliens attempting to breach the border occurred in fiscal year 2023.