Seven workers were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Optimo Car Wash on Main Street in Newington, prompting alarm from local officials and lawmakers. Town leaders say they were not informed beforehand, and community members are demanding answers. The arrests come amid a wider ICE crackdown in Connecticut, intensifying fears among immigrant families and raising questions about due process and accountability.
Read: ICE Raid in New Jersey Leaves 29 Arrested, Few Injured
Arrests at Optimo Car Wash
On Saturday morning, ICE agents arrested seven individuals at the Optimo Car Wash in Newington. Mayor Jon Trister confirmed the incident, emphasizing that the Newington Police Department had no role in the operation and was only notified afterward. The lack of prior communication with local authorities has stirred frustration among residents and officials.
Also read: Two Words on Facebook Exposed the Killer Who Murdered a 17-Year-Old Teen
Mayor Condemns Arrests
Mayor Trister issued a strong response on Facebook, expressing concern over the operation. “In the United States, everyone, regardless of their immigration status or where they were born, has the right to due process and to fundamental protections that cannot and must not be denied,” he wrote. Trister underscored that these protections are guaranteed under the Constitution and must apply to all.
Also read: Trump Threatens Troop Deployment to Baltimore Amid Clash With Governor Moore
Lawmakers Voice Concerns
State Rep. Kate Farrar, representing West Hartford and Newington, criticized the federal government’s tactics. “It is deeply frightening and profoundly troubling that our federal government continues to use fear and intimidation to target immigrants and their families,” she said. Farrar noted that two of the impacted families have young children and are receiving assistance from local organizations as they face uncertainty.
Also read: ICE Detains Disabled US Veteran in Washington During Citizenship Interview
Calls for Transparency
Rep. Gary Turco confirmed that he and other officials are pressing ICE for immediate answers. “We are actively working to determine who was targeted, whether their families have been notified, where they are being held and if or how they have been charged,” he stated. Turco vowed to keep the community informed and reiterated Newington’s commitment to being a welcoming town.
Also read: New Cambodian Law Lets Authorities Revoke Citizenship
Pattern of Car Wash Raids
The Newington arrests are the latest in a series of ICE operations at car washes across Connecticut. Earlier in August, four employees were detained at the East Street Car Wash in New Britain, and in June, four more were arrested at a Southington car wash. These repeated raids have raised concerns of targeted enforcement within specific industries.
Also read: Oklahoma Couple Charged for Raping 11-Year-Old Stepdaughter Who Gave Birth
Wider ICE Crackdown
The arrests coincide with “Operation Broken Trust,” an ICE initiative conducted from August 12 through August 15. The agency said it detained 65 people across Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford, claiming the operation targeted “transnational organized crime, gangs and egregious offenders.” Advocates, however, warn that many of those detained are workers and families, not dangerous criminals.