Tiempo 9/13/26: Connecticut ICE raids on first day of school spark concerns, debate

Tiempo with Joe Torres airs Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on Channel 7, WABC-TV in New York City.

ByTanya Rivero and Eyewitness News WABC logo

Sunday, September 13, 2026 3:26PM

Tiempo: ICE raids spark concern in Connecticut communities

In this episode of Tiempo, Tanya Rivero sits down with George Fernandes, a Danbury lawyer, to speak about ICE raids in Connecticut.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month begins this week, and on Tiempo, we'll celebrate the contributions and lasting impact of Latino Americans on our nation's history and culture.

It's a perfect time to highlight some of the activities and events of interest to Latinos, including the New York City Latino Film Festival. This year, the festival features more than 100 films, screenings, panel discussions, and so much more. On this episode, we'll talk to two film directors.

We'll also discuss a huge immigration crackdown in New York City called "Operation Rotten Apple" which is sparking debate in our area. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the operation resulted in the arrest of over 2,000 illegal aliens in August.

Federal officials called the detainees "the worst of the worst," including rapists, murderers and child predators. But state officials and community advocates are disputing those claims.

In Connecticut, ICE raids took place on the first day of school, and multiple people were detained immediately after dropping their children off, prompting widespread fear among families. ICE agents allegedly utilized unmarked vehicles, pepper spray, masks, and questionable technology, while targeting individuals at grocery stores, day cares, bus stops, and day-laborer gathering hubs like Danbury's Kennedy Park.

Eyewitness News Reporter Marcus Solis has the full story. George Fernandes, an attorney from Danbury joins the show. A raid took place right in front of his office.