Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, accompanied by a camera crew, made several arrests in Danbury, Connecticut, on June 4. The operation was part of a targeted immigration enforcement effort, according to an ICE spokesperson.
Local immigrant rights advocates, including Scott Kemp and Carolina Bortolleto, expressed concern about the presence of the camera crew, which they believed was attempting to create entertainment from the arrests. Kemp, a member of Greater Danbury Area Unites for Immigrants, said he normally witnesses around six to eight agents when ICE apprehends someone, but this time, he saw around a dozen ICE agents apprehending several people on separate occasions.
Concerns Over Camera Crew
The camera crew, which included a person operating a boom microphone, appeared to follow the ICE officers as they rounded up several people across the city. Kemp said he was concerned about what the federal government would do with the video, citing concerns about doxxing and potential harm to those arrested.
Connecticut State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, a Democrat who represents Stamford, criticized the presence of the Danbury camera crew, characterizing it as unprofessional and potentially creating a legal liability for ICE. Blumenthal co-sponsored a recently passed law that allows Connecticut residents to sue ICE agents.
ICE said in a statement that the arrested individuals had charges ranging from sexual assault against a minor, child abuse, and kidnapping, to assault on police officers. The agency did not disclose the names of those arrested or answer questions about the camera crew.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
