Emotions ran high in Hartford as undocumented migrants and Republican lawmakers clashed over immigration enforcement on Wednesday.

Hundreds weighed in on two competing bills.

One would make it easier for police to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, while the other would make it harder.

The debate comes as the Trump administration ramps up immigration raids – even deporting a plane load of migrants on Saturday despite a judge’s verbal order.

“The people of this country mandated President Trump to deal with the border crisis, deal with illegal immigration, deal with illegal alien crime,” said White House border czar Tom Homan. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

On Wednesday, immigrant advocates urged state lawmakers to strengthen the TRUST Act, which generally bans police from sharing information with ICE unless suspects are convicted felons or unless agents have a warrant signed by a judge.

“We are part of the backbone of this state, and yet we continue to live in fear that a simple traffic stop or police encounter could destroy our lives,” said Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director of Connecticut Students For A Dream.

Immigration authorities are already notified when a suspect is arrested because their fingerprints are entered into a national FBI database.

But ICE has complained that Connecticut police agencies release suspects before agents can pick them up, forcing them to arrest people on the street.

A new bill would expand the TRUST Act to include state and local government workers, prosecutors and the parole board. They could not disclose an person's address, school, workplace or any appointments and hearings they have scheduled.

One woman claimed that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles called federal agents on her husband.

“They told him his green card was rejected and that they had to send the information to ICE, and that he could not get a new license until ICE accepted his renewal,” Arlene Angel said through a translator.

The bill would also ban Connecticut agencies from using interpreters from ICE. The changes would take effect Oct. 1.

Several groups said the proposal doesn’t go far enough.

They called for a ban on immigration arrests around courthouses and police sharing surveillance footage with ICE.

“We want them out of our courthouses. We want them out of our schools,” said Kica Matos, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. “We want them out of our hospitals. We want them out of the state.”

Last month, state lawmakers passed a new law on ICE visits to schools. Agents now need a judicial warrant to come inside.

Republican lawmakers are pushing an alternative bill that would allow more cooperation with ICE. Police could hold a suspects charged with Class A, B or C felonies with just an administrative warrant.

“We worked with state police, local police, sometimes the Secret Service, sometimes the FBI,” said state Rep. Pat Callahan (R-New Fairfield). “But then, come 2013, we were told we could no longer work with one agency – ICE.”

Some town leaders worried about having to choose between following state law and federal law.

“The State has never asked me to do anything illegal, [but] I feel the HB 7212 is putting State Employees at risk by hinder ICE carrying out Federal Law Enforcement Activities,” Scotland First Selectman Dana Barrow wrote. “This bill puts State Employees at risk but also puts State residents at risk by harboring Illegal Aliens.”

Democrats countered that the TRUST Act improves public safety.

“When people fear calling the police because they think they’ll be turned over to ICE, real criminals get away,” said state Sen. Gary Winfield (D-New Haven), co-chair of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee.

The Judiciary Committee has until April 11 to act on the bills.

To submit written testimony, click HERE.