ICE Enforcement Surge in Danbury, Connecticut Detains Nearly 50 as Sen. Murphy Demands Halt Over School Bus Stop Arrests

ICE conducted an intensified enforcement operation in Danbury, Connecticut — a city roughly 35% foreign-born — during the week of August 24-26, 2026, coinciding with the start of the school year. Local advocacy group Danbury Unites for Immigrants counted 16 detentions Monday (Aug. 24), at least 9 Tuesday (Aug. 25), and 25 Wednesday (Aug. 26), roughly 50 total. Deputy mayoral chief of staff Jason Nova said eyewitnesses reported agents waiting for children to board school buses before detaining the parents who had dropped them off. Sen. Chris Murphy joined Danbury officials and Rep. Jahana Hayes at an Aug. 26 rally, saying 'ICE waited until the kids were on the bus so when they are dropped off at the end of the day, they are alone, scared to death they can't find their parents,' and 'ICE is not here to protect Danbury. ICE is here to put Danbury into a state of terror.' Advocates also reported use of pepper spray and a person struck by an ICE vehicle. DHS confirmed one named arrest — Ecuadoran national Leonel Geovanny Morocho-Arteaga, 28 — and called the school-bus-stop targeting claim 'FALSE.'