(Image source from: The CT Mirror)

A House Republican immigration bill adopts a new plan of action to penalize "sanctuary" cities and states, making it easier to sue them.

The legislation intends to punish states like Connecticut and California that neglect to react to requests from federal immigration authorities to hold prisoners past their release dates so they can be picked up and deported.

Courts have ruled that compliance with those requests, called "detainers" is voluntary.

In 2013, Connecticut passed the "Trust Act" that allows state and local law enforcement agencies to disregard a federal detainer for an immigrant if he or she hasn’t committed an earnest felony. So the state, and several Connecticut cities including Hartford and New Haven don’t abide by with all federal detainers.

The immigration bill, which could be voted on this week, would make jurisdictions that refuse to join forces with immigration authorities liable for some crimes committed by the undocumented immigrants they release.

The Legal power that declines under the bill detainer requests could face lawsuits if an immigrant they release commits slaying, sexual assault or sexual abuse of a minor. The victim of the crime or the victim's relative would be permitted to sue the jurisdiction, as long as the immigrant is condemned of the crime and sentenced to at least one year of imprisonment.

The bill would also require jurisdictions to hold an immigrant up to 96 hours after his or her release date if that immigrant is subject to a detainer request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It would also shield these jurisdictions from lawsuits against them for declining to immediately release prisoners whose jail terms were completed.

"This proposal is another attempt by Trump's Republican Party to advance their goal of sowing fear and anxiety, but it falls short of making communities across the nation safer," said Leigh Appleby, a spokesman for Gov. Dannel Malloy.

Appleby said the proposal is "likely unconstitutional on several grounds, and some components are already subject to ongoing litigation."

"It's getting harder to believe that they are serious about lowering crime and seems as though they are more concerned about their own midterm elections," Appleaby said.

The new detainer policy is part of a monolithic immigration bill that is considered an agreement between moderate and conservative House Republicans. A path to citizenship for young undocumented immigrants would be rendered but limits lawful immigration, asylum claims and budgets $25 billion for the building of a border wall and else border security measures.

By Sowmya Sangam