News Analysis: What Happens When ICE Comes to Enfield?

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  Freshwater Pond, Enfield CT Concern is high, generally, about what happens when ICE makes a concerted push in our community. Would we see something similar to Minnesota? That operation involved a saturation surge -- of more than 2,000 agents into the Twin Cities -- that overwhelmed local police capability. The question becomes do all communities face a similar risk, especially from agents that don't seem well-trained in de-escalation techniques. Enfield is too small of a town to get a massive ICE response. But it is the practice of ICE to operate independently from local police departments, which creates its own set of risks. Connecticut has a law, the Connecticut Trust Act, that sets some restrictions on what local police can do to help federal immigration enforcement. The Trust Act explicitly forbids local police from assisting federal agents unless specific serious criteria are met. But does the Trust Act protect residents, or does it just keep local police from helping in ce...
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Will Enfield vote for Trump again?




Trump in Enfield Connecticut
Signs on Hazard Ave. near the Eastern intersection of Middle Road. The "Love will always win" sign speaks to the Enfield's socially liberal values, which may way heavily against Trump this time around. 


Voting lines are long, with an hour-long wait at polling places, say social media reports. Connecticut will vote for Joe Biden in this race, as it did for Hillary Clinton in 2016. But Trump won Enfield in 2016, 9,238 to 8,548.

Will Trump repeat his 2016 Enfield victory? It's possible. There is one big local issue in play: Defense spending.

Connecticut ranks 7th in the nation on defense spending. Trump increased defense spending, as promised, and Connecticut has benefited from the increases. Residents here are aware that many jobs are defense-related.

But if Trump loses in Enfield, it might be around social and character issues.

The town carries the New England traditions of live and let live tolerance, for all its conservative leanings.

Enfield is generally socially liberal but fiscally conservative. This election will test the power of Enfield's social liberals. 

People feel they pay too much in local and state taxes, which helps local and state Republicans. 

Republicans here tend to skew liberal on social issues, which keeps some of the Democrats in their camp. One thing to note: The town is heavily Catholic and Trump's abortion stance may be appealing to some. 

Connecticut responded aggressively to the pandemic and had one of the best records in the nation. With the virus infection rates surging, people here may blame Trump. This could be a factor in today's vote. 

The election turnout in Enfield may be heading to a record level. Does this foretell a Trump or Biden victory in Enfield? That's too hard of a call to make.



Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA

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