As thousands of Danbury students returned to their classrooms, federal immigration arrests near school bus stops, a daycare, and an elementary school turned the opening of the school year into a time of fear for many families.

Some parents became afraid to leave home or walk their children to bus stops. Children reportedly witnessed parents and other community members being detained. Danbury Public Schools responded with a new safety procedure for students whose bus stops may be affected by law enforcement activity.

The arrests began on August 24, one day before classes started, and continued across Danbury for at least four days. Federal agents were reported at Kennedy Park, businesses, residential streets, and locations used by children and families.

By August 28, Danbury Unites for Immigrants estimated that at least 62 people had been detained. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not confirmed that figure, identified those detained, or announced a name or objective for the enforcement action.

In a statement provided to Patch, ICE said it would not discuss law enforcement operations because of officer safety and operational security. The agency said people who break the law would face consequences but did not explain whether agents were seeking specific individuals or questioning people encountered in public.

Children and Schools Affected

Danbury Unites for Immigrants reported that three parents were detained near a school bus stop on August 26, including one parent taken shortly after placing a child on the bus. The organization also received reports of ICE vehicles circling bus stops and returning around the afternoon drop-off time.

On CNN’s “State of the Union,” border czar Tom Homan said he was unaware of arrests at Danbury bus stops and noted that ICE no longer follows the former “sensitive locations” policy.

Clementina Lunar, a volunteer staffing the organization’s helpline, said she spoke with a family whose child saw ICE activity from a school bus. She also spoke with a community member who reported seeing a father detained after handing his child to a bus aide.

At an August 26 press conference at Kennedy Park, Mayor Roberto Alves described reported arrests near bus stops, a daycare, an elementary school, and the C-Town supermarket. He questioned whether the timing and locations were intentional.

Superintendent Dr. Kara Casimiro acknowledged the fear in a letter to families.

“We know some parents are afraid to leave the house, afraid to walk their child to the bus stop, afraid of what might happen while their child is at school,” Casimiro wrote, according to WFSB.

The district reminded families that immigration status does not affect a child’s right to attend school. Counselors and other resources were made available.

Under a new safety procedure, bus drivers will not allow students to leave a bus if significant law enforcement activity or another emergency is happening at their stop. The students will be returned to school, where staff will receive them and contact their parents.

U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes advised parents to update their children’s emergency contacts and identify a trusted adult who can pick them up if a parent is detained. She also encouraged families to complete a privacy release form with her office in advance, allowing congressional staff to assist more quickly if someone is detained.

Questions About the Danbury Action

Videos and witness accounts showed federal agents operating from unmarked vehicles, with many wearing masks. Arrests were reported at Kennedy Park, where workers gather to find jobs, and in shopping and residential areas.

Questions were also raised about agents’ use of force. A man was hospitalized after an ICE agent used a Taser during an August 27 arrest, according to Patch.

Taylor O’Brien, chief of staff to Alves, told Patch that ICE called 911 at about 6:45 a.m. to report that a man had been tased and needed medical attention. A city ambulance took him to Danbury Hospital, where he was discharged later that morning.

The Department of Homeland Security said the man physically resisted arrest, reached for a pocketknife, and refused agents’ orders during what it called a “targeted enforcement action.” DHS also said he carried a counterfeit permanent resident card and false Social Security card. The agency did not identify him.

DHS said agents issued several warnings before using force. Alves called the incident deeply concerning and requested more information about what happened and why that level of force was used.

At the August 26 press conference, Alves, Governor Ned Lamont, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, Hayes and other officials demanded information about who was detained, why they were selected, and how long the activity would continue.

Alves said Danbury police were not participating in federal civil immigration enforcement. He encouraged residents to continue calling local police and emergency services when they need help, regardless of immigration status.

Part of a National Increase

The Danbury activity came during a nationwide increase in immigration enforcement.

ICE arrested 49,571 people across the country in July, the highest monthly number recorded since at least October 2022, according to government data obtained by the Deportation Data Project and analyzed by The Guardian. The total was 15 percent higher than the previous record set in June.

The Guardian found that 51 percent of those arrested in July had no criminal convictions or pending criminal charges.

Those national figures do not establish the backgrounds of people detained in Danbury. ICE has not released enough information for Tribuna to independently examine their criminal or immigration histories.

Attorneys Respond

Immigration attorney Celina Curillo traveled to Hartford several times as volunteer attorneys responded to cases involving people detained in Danbury.

“What I have seen is that many of those who were apprehended in Danbury did not have criminal records,” Curillo told Tribuna.

Curillo serves with The American Immigrant Legal Clinic, known as TAILC. The Connecticut nonprofit provides free legal representation to low-income immigrants detained in the state.

“We are a team of volunteer attorneys,” Curillo said. “We donate our time because we care.”

Curillo said responding to a detention requires a coordinated team. While some attorneys prepared court papers, she and other team members traveled to Hartford to meet with detainees. Staff remaining at the office gathered records and prepared the documents needed for each case.

Families should immediately give the attorney the detained person’s full legal name, aliases, date and country of birth, A-number if available, identification documents, and the date, time, and location of the detention. They should also provide immigration notices, removal orders, visas, application receipts, and other immigration records.

Any criminal history should be disclosed, including cases dismissed, sealed, or resolved years ago. Certified court dispositions should be provided when available. Attorneys also need information about immediate relatives in the United States, particularly U.S. citizen relatives.

Medical information is especially important, Curillo said. Families should prepare a list of diagnoses, medications, dosages, doctors, pharmacies, current treatments, and disability-related needs. One trusted person should be selected as the main contact for the family and attorney.

Curillo warned families to confirm that anyone offering legal assistance is a licensed attorney. Before paying, ask for the person’s full name, the state where the attorney is licensed, and a written fee agreement. A business card, advertisement, or social media page is not proof that someone is a lawyer.

“Do not use notarios and document preparers,” she said. “The most important thing people can do is seek reputable immigration counsel.”

Where to Find Help

Families seeking help after a detention may call Danbury Unites for Immigrants at 475-237-7351 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Resources and volunteer information are available at linktr.ee/DUFI. Donations to support affected families can be made at bit.ly/DonateDUFI.

Information about free representation through TAILC is available at tailcproject.org.

Families seeking free help with a preparedness plan may call The New American Dream Foundation’s multilingual appointment line at 475-296-3559, available 24 hours a day. Ask for a needs assessment or family preparedness appointment at the New American Dream Center. Free assistance is provided in the family’s native language. Visit thenewamericandreamfoundation.org/center.

Sources: Tribuna reporting; Office of Governor Ned Lamont; Danbury Public Schools; Danbury Unites for Immigrants; WFSB; Patch; The Connecticut Mirror; The Guardian; and government data processed by the Deportation Data Project.