The standoff between Connecticut Democrats and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) escalated again after an ICE raid outside a Danbury courthouse. The raid, which took place on Thursday, June 4, sparked protests and condemnations in the state.
“The federal government claims to target criminals, but we are witnessing people being detained without their constitutional right to due process,” a joint statement from Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves and Democratic Danbury lawmakers Senator Julie Kushner, Representatives Bob Godfrey, Ken Gucker, and Farley Santos, said.
Neither the identities nor the number of the people arrested have been confirmed. The pro-immigrant activist group, Danbury4Immigrants, reported that at least six people were taken into custody.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson issued a statement accusing some of the men who were arrested of sexual assault of a minor, child abuse, kidnapping, and assault on police officers.
“We’re angry and saddened that so many in our city, throughout the state, and across the nation are living in fear,” the joint statement from Alves, Kushner, Godfrey, Gucker, and Santos said. “What we witnessed in Danbury at the courthouse last week was a clear escalation of the Trump administration’s violent tactics, using armed and masked ICE agents to spread fear and intimidation.”
In April, officials at DHS and the U.S. Department of Justice sued the State of Connecticut, the City of New Haven, Governor Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong, and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker over the Trust Act and an executive order from Elicker. The lawsuit claims that the Trust Act was created to “intentionally obstruct federal law enforcement and thwart the constitutional obligation of the President of the United States to take care that the immigration laws enacted by Congress are enforced.”
Connecticut’s Trust Act prevents state officials, including law enforcement and judges, from cooperating with immigration enforcement officers, unless they are working to deport a person who has been convicted of a Class A or B Felony.
“Our immigrant neighbors are part of the very fabric of this city. Our mayor and Representative Santos were once undocumented immigrants who had firsthand experience with the fear, the silence, and the constant uncertainty these families face,” the joint statement said. “At the local level, we will continue to meet with members of the community and faith leaders to provide resources and share information. At the state level, we will support efforts to strengthen and enforce the Trust Act.”
Neither local officials nor law enforcement were made aware of the raid before it happened. However, the raid was not a secret. Two of the ICE agents who participated in it were carrying cameras.
ICE officials have accused Connecticut policymakers of allowing dangerous criminals to escape custody to avoid deportation. In late December, ICE arrested Christian Espinosa-Sarango, who was charged with illegal sexual contact with a child, sexual assault, and enticing minors with a computer in North Haven in December, 2025. After his arrest, ICE agents lodged a detainer, requesting that local law enforcement notify them if they were to release Espinosa-Sarango.
Under the Trust Act, local law enforcement cannot abide by detainers unless the person in custody was convicted of a Class A or B Felony. As a result, ICE was not informed when Espinosa-Sarango was released.
“We need local law enforcement to cooperate with us to get these heinous criminals out of our neighborhoods,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a February press release. “This is a perfect example of why sanctuary policies make Americans less safe.”
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