Another man was abducted by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across the street from WCSU’s Midtown campus last Tuesday, 10/6. As the university draws near the end of its celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month, community members remain on edge.

In the minutes following 10:45 AM last Tuesday, witnesses and Danbury Unites for Immigrants (DUFI) advocates spotted several unmarked ICE vehicles in the Soho Pizza and Dubl Twister parking lot. 

Witnesses saw ICE break a window to remove a man from his car, noting that pepper spray was used in close proximity to his face. The man was cuffed at his hands and feet before three ICE agents put him into an unmarked vehicle. ICE agents were then seen mocking distressed witnesses before leaving a few minutes later.

Employees of Soho Pizza and Dubl Twister claimed that they were unaware of ICE presence in their parking lot, not knowing that someone had been taken. 

This marked another instance of rampant ICE activity near WCSU, making students worry about ICE potentially coming on campus. Being across the street from Midtown, both restaurants are popular dining locations for WestConn students.

Activity continued throughout the afternoon at nearby businesses, including an alleged collision between an ICE vehicle striking a car in a parking lot on White Street.

A filming bystander informed The Echo that, around 11:15 AM, an ICE vehicle hit a sedan in the Pinchos Charlitos parking lot—less than a minute down the road from the kidnapping— on White Street. 

After the car was hit, one ICE agent was then seen unlocking and moving the struck vehicle to allow the other ICE vehicles to leave the parking lot. It is unknown whether someone was in the car at the time it was hit. 

In addition to the kidnapping, ICE vehicles were seen driving recklessly on both White Street and Moss Avenue. Witnesses noted speeding, driving over the double yellow line on two-way roads, and making sharp turns near Moss Avenue’s residences. 

ICE was also seen leaving and returning from the law firm parking lot on Moss and White, idling for at least a half-hour during one instance reported to The Echo. The agents carried radios and took photographs of concerned bystanders, seemingly laughing and chatting with one another. 

Other locations with ICE sightings from last Tuesday include the Danbury Railway Museum parking lot, Wooster Cemetery, and the Sonic parking lot—all featuring the same previously mentioned idle ICE vehicle. 

In a social media post, DUFI confirmed that ICE was also present at the courthouse. According to DUFI, ICE activity began as early as 9:30 AM in Danbury that day.

Danbury continues to remain a hotspot for ICE activity this October, with DUFI recording two abductions on Thursday 10/1, at least two ICE vehicle sightings last Monday, and five abductions last Friday. ICE continued its romp through Danbury on Monday of this week, 10/12, with DUFI reporting an abduction on West Street and Division Street.

Students who witness ICE activity in Danbury can call the DUFI helpline at (475) 237-7351.

Community members who would like to express concerns or share tips can contact The Echo at echo@wcsu.edu