Larson, Blumenthal Rally Community Leaders and Advocates to Demand Release of West Hartford Restaurateur from ICE Custody
West Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) gathered with Senator Richard Blumenthal, community leaders, and advocates outside West Hartford Town Hall with local resident Emir Cecunjanin to demand the release of his father Seyo from ICE custody.
Last week, Seyo Cecunjanin, a resident and small business owner, was detained by ICE agents in unmarked vehicles, with guns drawn, outside a Dunkin’ location on Park Road. Seyo has resided in the United States since 1997 and raised a family in Connecticut after fleeing Yugoslavia as it was being torn apart by Slobodan Milošević’s genocidal campaign of ethnic cleansing. He is legally authorized to work in the United States and owns a restaurant and dry-cleaning business in West Hartford. He has been working toward becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident.
“Seyo has been a pillar of the community—raising a family, starting two businesses, and giving back to others—yet that didn’t stop armed ICE agents from pulling up in unmarked vans with guns drawn, and handcuffing Seyo in front of his children on Park Road last week,” said Larson. “This is not Russia or China, but right here in West Hartford, Connecticut. We’ve seen agents snatch mothers from their children at car washes in Newington and Southington and even take an Afghan green card holder in my hometown of East Hartford. State police aren’t notified of these operations. Local officials are kept in the dark—and immigrant families are paying the price. I am proud to stand together with the Cecunjanin family and the community with one voice to demand Seyo’s release and an end to these out-of-control raids on our streets.”
“Seyo has been here for almost 30 years and all he wants to do is work hard, raise his family and contribute to his community. He must be released immediately, as he is as low a risk as you can possibly imagine,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal. “Seyo: you are not alone, Connecticut stands with you, and we will fight for you. ICE: you are not above the law. No more failures to get a warrant for someone’s arrest and overly aggressive detentions. At the end of the day the law is on our side and we will win.”
“The June 20th seizure of West Hartford businessman Seyo Cecunjanin, surrounded by approximately five ICE agents in five separate vehicles at the Park Road Dunkin’ Donuts, without explanation, without cause given, and without even a request for identification—was a shocking display of federal overreach that has shaken our entire community,” said Shari Cantor, Mayor of West Hartford. “Every person on American soil has the right to due process and basic human dignity, and what took place on Park Road that morning appeared to honor neither. I am deeply grateful to Congressman John Larson for his immediate and tireless efforts on Mr. Cecunjanin’s behalf, and I stand with him in demanding answers, accountability, and Seyo’s swift release.”
Rep. Larson has called on ICE leadership to release Seyo from ICE custody, joined by members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation, as well as state leaders like Attorney General William Tong.
This is not an isolated incident in Connecticut—masked agents have snatched mothers from their children at car washes in Newington, Southington, and Hamden, and detained an Afghan green card holder in East Hartford last summer. Rep. Larson, who voted against the creation of this rogue agency, has called for disbanding ICE, and was put on a “watch list” by the Trump Department of Homeland Security for his forceful advocacy against the President’s anti-immigrant policies tearing apart Connecticut communities. This month, he, along with the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation, voted against the Republican immigration bill that handed another $70 billion to ICE and the Border Patrol, with no guardrails, oversight, or accountability.