West Hartford/East Hartford Panel To Address Immigration Rights At Forum

Legal experts and police leaders will discuss immigration rights and community trust at UConn Law in Hartford this week.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 10:50am

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A regional panel on civil liberties and immigration protections is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, at the UConn School of Law in Hartford, bringing together legal advocates and law enforcement leaders to discuss the impact of state and federal policies on local communities. The 'Know Your Rights' discussion, hosted in partnership with the Town of West Hartford and City of East Hartford, will focus on immigration law, human rights, and public safety, with particular attention to Connecticut's Trust Act and its role in shaping interactions between local police and federal immigration authorities.

Why it matters

With President Donald Trump's federal ICE agents still rounding up immigrants and taking them away, this forum aims to address a prominent national issue at the local level by fostering informed dialogue and strengthening community understanding of rights-based approaches to immigration and public policy.

The details

The event will take place at Starr Hall, 55 Elizabeth St., Hartford. Registration and refreshments begin at 6 p.m., followed by the panel from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Organizers said the panel will include representatives from groups such as the ACLU of Connecticut and IRIS – Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, as well as local law enforcement leadership. Participants are expected to address how immigration policies affect residents and outline legal protections available to immigrant communities.

  • The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

The players

ACLU of Connecticut

A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to defending the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Connecticut.

IRIS - Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services

A nonprofit organization that welcomes refugees and immigrants and helps them establish new lives, regain hope, and become self-sufficient, productive members of the community.

Don Bell

The moderator of the panel, representing the Constitution Project, who will guide the conversation to provide practical information on constitutional rights, legal resources, and institutional responsibilities for safeguarding civil liberties.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This forum highlights the ongoing tensions and concerns around immigration policies at the national and local levels, and the importance of fostering open dialogue and understanding between legal experts, law enforcement, and immigrant communities to protect civil liberties and promote public safety.