Leaders demand answers after 70+ residents detained by ICE in Danbury, Connecticut
DANBURY, Connecticut (WABC) -- Leaders in Connecticut are calling out the Trump administration after more than 70 residents of Danbury were taken into custody last week during an operation.
The local leaders toured the downtown area on Monday, speaking to community members in Danbury who say they have a sense of fear and anxiety as ICE is ramping up its activity in this diverse part of the state.
Democratic senator of Connecticut Richard Blumenthal was one of the leaders who spoke on Monday. He joined Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves at City Hall.
In addition to immigrant community members, they also spoke to business owners who have been impacted by last week's ICE activity.
A "ghost town," is how Marcos at Ecuadorian Restaurant La Mitad del Mundo describes his home of Danbury after the ICE enforcement last week. He says his neighbors are now anxious to be outside.
"Nobody showed up," he said.
Officials said some community members are telling them that they're afraid to go to work, and that's impacting business, and there's also a fear of bringing their children to school.
"We don't see folks going to the stores. We still see parents scared to send their kids to school. We still see parents scared to go to work," Mayor Alves said.
This comes after last week, officials estimate at least 70 Danbury residents alone were detained by ICE. That's between Monday and Thursday, and they believe it to be in the hundreds statewide.
It appears to be a part of an escalation of immigration enforcement across southern Connecticut.
Community activists have been protesting and out warning residents of the presence of ICE agents and reminding them what their rights are when it comes to detainment.
Blumenthal said he's anticipating change to come regarding immigration after November's midterm elections.
"The administration promised it was going to go after the worst of the worst, that is, people with serious criminal records. That's not what's happening, not what's happening here where about 100 or more, perhaps many more, have been detained and only a fraction, perhaps six or seven, have any criminal history," Blumenthal said.
According to recent census data, 35% of Danbury residents are foreign-born, like Doris Cali. She is now a U.S. citizen, but she understands the fear.
"Everybody comes here because they want to work, to have a better life," Cali said.
Meantime, the White House Border Czar Tom Homan was on CNN on Sunday, and he pointed out that the ICE agents are just doing their congressionally authorized job.
"We're out there to look for illegal aliens with final orders of removal, those who overstay, those are criminals and we're out there looking for them and arresting them," Homan said. "ICE has no intention of terrorizing children. That is just a political statement, you know, to enrage the American people.
When asked specifically about what happened in Connecticut last week, the Department of Homeland Security said that due to security and safety issues for its officers, it won't discuss law enforcement operations but emphasized that it will continue to enforce the law across the country, and in Connecticut.
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