Murphy Presses DHS Sec. Mullin On ICE Operations in Connecticut

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) just pressed U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin for accountability and transparency on unprecedented immigration raids in Connecticut by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last month, including near a children's school bus stop.

"Last month, families and communities in Connecticut experienced mass immigration enforcement arrests across the state. To make matters worse, parents were reportedly arrested in front of their children, including at least one parent who was arrested just after their child boarded a bus for their first day of school. As fathers, I hope we can both agree that children should not have to witness their parents being brutally arrested for civil immigration offenses," said Murphy.

In a letter to Mullin, Murphy cited the long-term suffering children experience when they personally experience the arrest of their parents, pushing for immigration forces to exercise restraint and follow the books.

"The Department of Homeland Security must take immediate action to eliminate this unnecessary and harmful use of force. Additionally, DHS is also required to follow the 'Detained Parents Directive' (DPD), even in its weakened state, to ensure that parents are not unconstitutionally deprived of their child," said Murphy.

Murphy concluded with a push for accountability and transparency, issuing a series of information requests to Mullin:

• How many arrests were made in total in Connecticut from August 17 - 28 ("the specified time")? Provide the location of each arrest (city/town).
• Were any arresting agents/officers employed by any other federal agency other than ICE?
• If so, how many? Were any agents present in Connecticut detailed from another federal agency?
• For each arrest made in Connecticut during the specified time, state specifically whether arresting agents/officers followed the 'Detained Parents Directive'. If so, what evidence can you provide that arresting agents/officers followed such policy? If not, provide a written rationale for such deviation.
• Were arresting agents/officers assigned to Connecticut as their full-time duty station, or were they transported across state lines to execute this operation?
• Provide the conviction or pending criminal charge for each person arrested in Connecticut during the specified time.
• Provide the immigration status of those arrested, including the number of people with parole, protections under the Convention Against Torture, or withholding of removal, if applicable.
• Multiple videos show a federal agent kicking a person who is on the ground, even though he is surrounded by agents and does not appear to be resisting. Under what circumstances is it permissible for a federal agent to kick a person? After reviewing this video, was such conduct permissible? Please provide an explanation.
• How many arrests were made at, or near, a school bus stop, playground or daycare center? Provide the rationale for federal agents to make such arrests around children.
• On CNN, Tom Homan committed to an investigation into what happened in Danbury, CT. Provide an update on the status of this investigation.

Read the letter to Sec. Mullin here.

ICE recently conducted a week-long operation in Connecticut resulting in 118 arrests, which included an arrest of a parent who just dropped their child off at their school bus stop. When reports surfaced, Sen. Murphy immediately joined elected officials and immigration rights advocates, as well as thousands of protestors in Danbury, to denounce the operation. Videos released to CT Insider by Danbury Public Schools under a Freedom of Information Act request documented the scene.

In response, Sen. Murphy introduced three new bills to rein in ICE abuses and protect kids from targeting by agents at playgrounds, child care facilities, and school bus stops, as well as cosponsored legislation to protect immigrants seeking essential services at locations like hospitals, schools, and courthouses.