Larson Condemns ICE Raid at Newington Car Wash

East Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after ICE detained seven workers at a car wash in Newington without notifying local officials. 

“I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the actions taken this morning by ICE in Newington when they grabbed seven individuals at a local car wash,” said Larson. “After speaking with Mayor Trister, I can confirm that no local officials were notified and that no details have been made available about who these men and women are. Snatching people at work is not keeping our community safe - it is government thuggery, and this, combined with his actions in D.C. only further show President Trump’s descension to authoritarianism. This is exactly the kind of heavy-handed, unconstitutional action we have come to expect from his administration and his ICE operatives. They operate in secrecy, wearing masks, ignoring due process, disregarding the rights of individuals, and showing no respect for the laws of our state or the elected officials of our communities. These raids are not about safety. They are about fear. They undermine trust, divide our communities, and trample on the very principles of justice and fairness that define our nation. This must stop, and it must stop now. I will continue to stand with our immigrant neighbors and work with my colleagues in Congress to hold ICE accountable and ensure that our Constitution and the rule of law are respected.” 

Rep. Larson is a cosponsor of the No Secret Police Act to require ICE agents to identify themselves and bar them from wearing masks. He is also a cosponsor of the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act to prevent ICE raids at schools, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship.