To the Editor:
When will elected officials start siding with victims? Too often, politicians turn a blind eye to families who suffer at the hands of criminal illegal aliens. Instead of standing with law enforcement, they demonize the very men and women who risk their lives to keep our communities safe.
Federal agents tasked with enforcing our laws are under constant attack — not from criminals, but from elected officials who should be standing beside them. These agents are doing their jobs: removing dangerous individuals who are here illegally and have committed crimes. Yet they are treated as villains while lawbreakers are treated as victims.
Across Connecticut and around the country, we continue to see ICE agents and local law enforcement carrying out their duties — arresting and deporting those who violate our laws. Rather than supporting these efforts to protect our communities, too many politicians rush to microphones to condemn them and exploit these situations for political gain. They don’t stand with the agents, and they don’t stand with the victims of crimes committed by those who never should have been here in the first place. Their outrage isn’t about protecting families — it’s about protecting their political power.
We must repeal the Trust Act. Law enforcement must be free to communicate and cooperate with federal agencies. When someone in custody is here illegally and has committed crimes, the responsible course is to remove them while they are in a secure environment — not release them back into our neighborhoods. True compassion means protecting law-abiding citizens first.
Where is the accountability for politicians who enable illegal immigration, fully aware of the risks and consequences? And where is the responsibility for the businesses and individuals who exploit those here illegally for profit?
Even the “Dreamers” — young people brought to this country through no fault of their own — have been left waiting for years for a real solution. Their hopes for citizenship are repeatedly dashed by politicians who choose power over progress, chaos over compassion. They flood the country with more illegal immigration to build a future voting base instead of addressing the real humanitarian and public safety crisis.
We must also repeal the Police Accountability Act that has handcuffed officers and discouraged recruits. Law enforcement today is being asked to do everything — from social work to mental-health response — all while facing constant scrutiny and hostility. Recruitment is at an all-time low, and morale is suffering. This is unsustainable.
A safe and civil society depends on communication and cooperation between all levels of law enforcement. When police are forbidden to share immigration status with federal authorities, our communities are less safe, not more just.
As your next Lieutenant Governor, I will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the brave men and women of law enforcement. They deserve respect, resources, and the freedom to do their jobs without fear or political interference. We must restore trust in those who protect us — not in those who break our laws.
Matthew Corey
Manchester, CT
Corey is a Navy veteran, small business owner and candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut.