RELEASE: Immigrant Orgs Respond to Judicial Branch Virtual Events Page, Urge Additional Action
Carolina Bortolleto
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026
Contact: Carolina Bortolleto | bortollet...@gmail.com | 203-942-3052
Immigrant and Advocacy Organizations Welcome to CT Judicial Branch Virtual Events Page, Urge Additional Action
The availability of information does not necessarily translate to accessibility of remote hearings. We call on the CT Judicial Branch to ensure that remote court hearings are truly accessible, by establishing uniform and consistent opt-in access to remote hearings in all Connecticut courts.
Danbury, Connecticut—Today, in response to news of the CT Judicial Branch’s launch of a new Remote Events page on Friday April 17th, immigrant and advocacy organizations issued the following statement:
We thank the CT Judicial Branch for launching improved website functionality that makes it easier to find information on how to request a remote court hearing. This is an important first step in ensuring all CT residents can fully access our state’s courts. This is, however, just a first step of several needed to eliminate the obstacles to justice for not only our immigrant community, but CT’s working families, those living with disabilities, and seniors, among others.
Absent a consistent and uniform statewide process for securing a remote court hearing for all CT state courts, access to justice will continue to vary depending on the location of the courthouse in which a defendant’s case is heard.
As a result, immigrants who may be a victim of or a witness to a crime, or need to resolve a minor legal infraction, are being asked to put their freedom in jeopardy to engage with the justice system. This is untenable.
The groups urge the Judicial Branch to build on its commitment to expanding judicial access by making additional reforms, including:
Establishing uniform opt-in access for remote hearings across all Connecticut courts so that everyone who needs a remote court hearing can have access to one;
Providing additional guidance to courts on the importance and the need of residents having access to remote hearings;
Ensuring that requests for remote hearings are fairly adjudicated by local courts.
Improving access to information and forms, so that they are available in multiple languages.
Carolina Bortolleto, Danbury Unites for Immigrants, "The announcement to make information on accessing virtual court hearings more available by launching a website is a step forward. Here in Danbury, we have seen firsthand the devastation that occurs when immigrants are grabbed and forced into cars by masked, armed men. When people fear deportation when going to court, they effectively lose access to the entire justice system - whether they're victims reporting crimes, witnesses, or family members. Any action that aims to shield our communities from harm is welcome and we are thankful that the CT Judicial Branch has taken this action. However, the fact is that even with more information available, remote hearings are still not uniformly accessible. For example, requests for remote hearings get routinely denied, there is a lack of consistent processes across different courts, and there is inconsistent judicial discretion; the consequence is that it is very difficult, and in many courts impossible, for community members to actually get a remote court hearing approved, and so families remain at risk. Our CT Judicial Branch must take further action. We hope to work together with elected leaders and the Judicial Branch to keep working on the solutions needed.”
David Vita, Stamford Norwalk United with Immigrants (SNUI): "Stamford Norwalk United with Immigrants (SNUI) appreciates that the judiciary is recognizing the need for increased access to remote hearings. This logically follows the ban on warrantless arrests in courthouses which was announced by Supreme Court Chief Justice Mullins last September and codified into law during the special session. It provides relative security in the courthouses, but people are still in danger of being kidnapped by ICE going to and coming from court. Offering more access to information about remote hearings is a good start. But it’s not enough, because it does not necessarily mean that more online hearings will be granted. Advocates for immigrant protection, the judiciary, and members of the legislature must now come together to make that happen. SNUI members have first-hand experience with people deciding not to appear in court — at the last minute — because the risk was too great. We believe that we all can agree that justice is not served when people fear going to court."
Ellen M. Messali, New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA), “The creation of the Remote Events Page acknowledges the need of many Connecticut residents to be able to participate in their judicial proceedings remotely. This is a step in the right direction towards providing increased access to justice for people living in poverty, parents without access to childcare, immigrants, people with disabilities and those with chronic illnesses. At the same time, NHLAA urges the Judicial Branch to continue to expand access to remote hearings by ensuring that litigants have a meaningful opportunity to request them, as well as a transparent understanding of the process for granting these hearings. Currently, requests for remote hearings are routinely denied without explanation or notice, or never adjudicated at all. There should be clear policies requiring judges to adjudicate requests for remote hearings in a timely manner, and to provide reasoned decisions for denials. We can and must do better.”
Gus Marks-Hamilto, ACLU-CT: “Now more than ever, it is critical to ensure that areas like court houses are safe spaces for all Connecticut residents. Until then, having options like the ability to join hearings virtually are imperative to keeping immigrants protected against ICE raids. The ACLU-CT commends the Judicial Branch for taking a step in the right direction.”
Tabitha Sookdeo, CT Students for a Dream: “For our communities, getting to court safely is a matter of survival. Connecticut has fought hard to build courthouse protections, and immigrant youth are proud to have been part of that fight. Chief Justice Mullins, Governor Lamont, and the legislature banned warrantless arrests and codified those protections into law last special session. But the hard truth is that those laws are being violated by federal officers and the state-level enforcement mechanisms are simply not strong enough to ensure our communities are actually protected. On the ground, we are seeing a statewide trend of federal agents using face scanning technology at courthouses to identify and pick up people indiscriminately. A website alone cannot solve inconsistent access to remote hearings across courts. We remain committed to working with the legislature and the Judicial Branch to push for the systemic court-wide rule changes needed to make remote access truly available to everyone.”
Susan Vogel, Indivisible Stamford: “Remote court hearings are not a luxury—they are a critical access-to-justice tool for immigrants across Connecticut. When availability depends on the courthouse or the individual judge, it creates inconsistency in a system where fairness and due process must be uniform. Asking people to risk their freedom to appear before the court is unacceptable. . Every person, regardless of where their case is heard, should have equal access to the same options that allow them to participate fully in our justice system.”
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