ICE arrests 65 people in U.S. illegally during four-day Connecticut sweep

(CONNECTICUT) Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 65 people present in the United States without legal status during a four-day sweep in August 2025, officials said, describing it as one of the largest recent enforcement actions in The state. The operation, called Operation Broken Trust, was run by ICE’s Boston field office with other federal partners and focused on people with serious criminal histories or known gang ties. ICE confirmed the arrests on August 20, 2025.

Of the 65 people taken into custody, 29 had been charged with or convicted of crimes such as kidnapping, assault, drug offenses, weapons violations, and sex crimes, according to ICE. Others had criminal records in their home countries or were identified by federal officers as gang members.

“The state of Connecticut is a safer place thanks to the hard work and determination of the men and women of ICE and our federal partners,” said Patricia H. Hyde, acting director of the Boston field office, adding that the operation targeted individuals with “significant criminality.”

Arrests happened in multiple cities across Connecticut, including high-profile actions at courthouse sites that drew public attention and criticism. On August 14, dozens of ICE officers detained two people on the steps of the Danbury Courthouse. Video from the scene showed an officer displaying a taser during a tense exchange with advocates. Three days earlier, on August 11, two men were arrested inside the Stamford courthouse.

Operation and arrest details

ICE officers used targeted methods to find people they said posed public safety risks. Field reports indicate officers sometimes wore construction gear while working near the Connecticut–New York border.

Federal officials said all arrested individuals were being processed for removal proceedings. Those with existing criminal convictions were placed at the front of the line for expedited removal steps under federal law.

People taken into custody have the right to seek legal representation and to appear before an immigration judge. Advocacy groups caution that access to lawyers inside detention and the speed of early processing can make those rights hard to exercise in real time.

Families looking for information were told to contact the ICE Boston Field Office or check the official agency website at https://www.ice.gov for detainee updates and case status.

ICE framed the operation as a response to public safety concerns, arguing that removing people with serious criminal records protects communities and helps courts and police. Supporters of the operation echoed that view, pointing to the range of charges and convictions listed by ICE among the 29 cases flagged as priorities.

Courthouse actions and community reaction

Courthouse arrests in Danbury and Stamford sparked fast and noisy backlash. Immigrant advocates held rallies outside both locations and demanded new protections.

Groups including Greater Danbury Unites for Immigrants urged lawmakers to set stricter limits on courthouse arrests, arguing that people should be able to:

• attend hearings,
• pay fines, or
• seek restraining orders

without fear of arrest by federal officers.

Political pressures rose quickly. State Rep. Corey Paris, a Democrat from Stamford, said he received death threats after speaking out about the courthouse arrests, underscoring how tense the debate has become. Advocacy leaders said the threats show why many families fear coming to court, even as witnesses or victims.

The Connecticut Judicial Branch said its policy remains in place under the state’s Trust Act: public safety employees do not block or assist federal arrests in courthouses. The statement reaffirmed that while state and local officials follow state law limits on cooperation, they do not interfere with federal agents acting on their own authority.

ICE’s public statement used stark language, declaring, “Connecticut is a sanctuary no more,” signaling a harder line and more visible activity in a state that limits local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. While the Trust Act restricts how local police and jail officials respond to federal requests, it does not stop federal agents from making arrests in public spaces, including courthouses.

Advocates and legal groups warn that courthouse arrests can scare off victims of crime and witnesses who need the courts to function. They argue that when people avoid court dates out of fear, cases stall and public safety suffers. Federal officials dispute that view and maintain that targeted operations like Operation Broken Trust remove high-priority offenders while leaving other court users alone.

“Courthouse arrests can discourage victims and witnesses from using the justice system,” advocates say, while ICE emphasizes public safety as the core rationale for targeted enforcement.

Policy context and what comes next

The four-day operation has deepened a long-running argument over the role of states in federal immigration enforcement. Connecticut’s Trust Act limits how far local police and jails can go in working with federal immigration agents, but it does not control federal actions and does not prevent ICE from conducting courthouse or community arrests on its own. That legal gap is now central to the debate.

Advocacy groups are pushing lawmakers to revisit the Trust Act with proposals that would:

• restrict or ban federal arrests in or near courthouses,
• add notice requirements so attorneys and judges can prepare for federal actions.

Lawmakers are expected to hold hearings on possible changes in the coming months. VisaVerge.com reports that supporters of stronger limits are preparing bills focusing on courthouse access and clearer lines between state and federal roles.

For its part, ICE signaled that more operations are likely in Connecticut and in other states with laws limiting local cooperation. Federal officials say they will continue focusing on people with criminal records and gang ties, using brief, high-impact actions to avoid long-term neighborhood sweeps.

Families and defense lawyers say they are bracing for more courthouse encounters and worry that people may skip court rather than risk meeting federal officers at the door. Legal aid groups are training volunteers to:

• show up outside courthouses when ICE is present,
• help people find counsel, and
• document arrests.

People caught up in Operation Broken Trust should expect a fast first phase. According to federal officials and court observers, the process typically includes:

1. Initial processing by ICE and transfer to detention
2. File review to determine if a prior removal order exists
3. Priority handling for those with criminal convictions
4. Issuance of charging papers placing the person in removal proceedings
5. Right to seek legal representation and request a hearing

Advocates urge families to keep key documents together, such as prior court papers and proof of family ties, and to contact a trusted legal service provider as soon as possible. They also encourage community members to attend local meetings and hearings as lawmakers weigh changes to the Trust Act.

Federal-state tension over immigration enforcement is not new, but the visibility and tempo of arrests in this operation have put Connecticut at the center of the national discussion again. Whether the legislature moves to add new limits on courthouse arrests—or whether federal officials step up actions even further—will shape how families, courts, and police operate in the months ahead.

As summarized by VisaVerge.com, the four-day sweep and the August 20, 2025 confirmation point to a tougher federal stance in a state where local cooperation remains limited by law. For now, ICE says public safety drives its choices, while critics say courthouse arrests erode trust and make communities less safe over time.

The next steps will likely play out both at the state Capitol and at courthouse doors across Connecticut.