Increased ICE activity reported across western Connecticut this week
Advocacy group Stamford Norwalk United with Immigrants says it has counted at least 40 people detained by ICE this week in Danbury, Bridgeport and Stamford.
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Reports of increased ICE activity have flooded Western Connecticut this week, with advocacy group Stamford Norwalk United with Immigrants telling News 12 it has counted at least 40 people who have been detained in Danbury, Bridgeport and Stamford.
That includes one woman who says her husband was taken by agents Monday morning.
The woman, who asked not to be identified, says she is in the United States legally, and her husband has no criminal record, however he was still going through the process to legally be in the country.
"We have three kids," she said. "It was very hard to find the right words. I did my best, told them 'Daddy's not coming home. We're not gonna see him for a while.'"
She says she was able to track her husband down Wednesday morning, and that he is currently being held in Colorado, waiting to see an immigration judge.
"(Our children) cry. I can just describe as painful cry, that's all," she said of when she told them the news. "Last night, before going to bed, my son, who is 10, said Mommy, I miss Daddy.'"
Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons has also heard about the detainments, and released a statement on the surge in activity Tuesday, telling News 12 "it is heartbreaking, it is cruel."
Her office says besides the women's husband, it knows of at least three other people in the city confirmed to have been detained by ICE on Monday.
"It was completely random, they do not give us a heads up on this, our Stamford Police Department is not allowed to coordinate with ICE based on the Connecticut Trust Act," she said.
Sources tell News 12 at least two more people were taken by ICE on Tuesday.
"That does not make us safer," said Simmons. "That instills fear among our immigrant community, it makes kids scared to go to school."
The city of also offers a variety of immigrants rights services, which are linked to on Simmons' statement.
With ICE vehicles reported in Stamford's West Side on Wednesday, volunteers were walking around, passing out homemade cue cards with immigrants rights on them.
The cards were written in both Spanish and French, for the city's Haitian community.
"I'm the son of a Holocaust survivor," said Craig Kravitz, who was volunteering. "I feel a legacy to make a stand and make noise when stuff like this is happening, because when they come for one group, they come for everybody."
News 12 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to ask about reasons for this week's increase in activity, but so far, has not heard back.
