Hundreds of Connecticut residents gathered in Hartford’s Bushnell Park Monday night for a candlelight vigil. The protest came in response to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions across the state.
People from communities large and small showed up. Many said stepped-up immigration enforcement has left families fearful, frustrated, and unsure where to turn for help.
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Hartford Vigil Shines Light on ICE Detentions Across Connecticut
Organizers of the Bushnell Park vigil said that since 2023, more than 900 Connecticut residents have been detained by ICE. They called the uptick in enforcement extraordinary, impacting families from Hartford and New Haven to Bridgeport, Waterbury, New Britain, Newington, East Hartford, West Hartford, and plenty of smaller towns too.
On a cold evening, participants bundled in coats and scarves turned Bushnell Park into a sea of small lights. Candles and homemade signs filled the crowd, and many wore butterfly wings—a visual symbol of free migration and the hope for safe, stable lives for immigrant families.
Symbolic Shoes, Butterfly Wings, and a Song of Resistance
One of the most striking moments was a quiet procession through the park. Attendees placed pairs of empty shoes along the pathways, each pair representing someone detained and now missing from home, work, school, or their faith community.
As the crowd moved, voices rose together in the song “We Shall Not Be Moved.” For many, it felt like both protest and prayer—a way to show solidarity with detained loved ones and those living with the constant threat of arrest or deportation.
Families Describe Fear, Vulnerability, and Lingering Trauma
Speakers at the vigil said the impact of ICE detentions reaches far beyond a single arrest. They described a ripple effect that touches children, spouses, employers, teachers, and entire neighborhoods, from cities like Hartford and Bridgeport to suburbs like Newington and West Hartford.
Hartford resident Saira Valencia told the crowd the constant threat of detention leaves immigrant families feeling perpetually vulnerable to government power. Even those with green cards, she said, worry that a routine traffic stop or a visit to a courthouse could change everything overnight.
Testimonies of Health Struggles and PTSD
One of the evening’s most emotional testimonies came from Vilma Aparicio-Deras, a Guatemalan woman detained by ICE at a Newington car wash in August. She had just undergone surgery for kidney stones and described a sharp decline in her health in custody, including inadequate medical care and conditions that made her recovery harder.
Another story, read anonymously to protect the speaker’s identity, described long-term trauma and PTSD tied to a parent’s detention. The testimony recounted children waking up at night afraid their remaining parent might disappear, and the ongoing fear that any knock at the door could signal deportation.
New Connecticut Laws Aim to Limit ICE in Courthouses
The vigil happened just weeks after a special legislative session in November, where Connecticut lawmakers approved new restrictions on ICE enforcement activity in state courthouses. Advocates from Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, and other communities say these changes matter, but they’re not a cure-all.
Supporters of the legislation argue that immigrants—documented and undocumented—need to feel safe entering courthouses to testify, seek protective orders, or address housing and family matters without fearing arrest by immigration authorities.
Judicial Warrants, Mask Limits, and Data Protections
Under the new measures, ICE officers must have a judicial warrant to make an arrest inside a Connecticut courthouse. The law also limits the use of masks by enforcement personnel, aiming to increase transparency and accountability in public spaces.
Lawmakers barred state agencies from sharing residents’ personal data with ICE. While the state can’t stop federal agencies from sharing information with immigration authorities, Connecticut officials say they want to make sure local and state databases aren’t used to help civil immigration enforcement.
Grassroots Groups Mobilize as Turnout Exceeds Expectations
Several grassroots organizations, including Hartford Deportation Defense and Jewish Voice for Peace, organized the Bushnell Park gathering. Community leaders said they felt both heartened and surprised by the large turnout, especially on such a frigid night and given the widespread fear of retaliation.
Some participants traveled from as far as Bridgeport and New London to stand in solidarity, showing how ICE detention has become a statewide concern. Organizers hope the vigil sparks more robust support networks for detained individuals and keeps pressure on state and federal officials to rethink immigration enforcement priorities.
Continuing the Conversation Beyond Bushnell Park
As the candles burned low and the crowd thinned out, speakers urged everyone to keep the conversation going beyond Bushnell Park. They wanted folks to bring these talks into town halls, faith groups, schools, and workplaces all over Connecticut.
Speakers encouraged residents from Hartford to Newington, from New Haven to Waterbury, to stay informed about their rights. They asked people to support legal defense efforts and to keep sharing stories that might otherwise get lost.
For many who showed up, the vigil didn’t feel like an ending. It felt more like a starting point—a public acknowledgment of the toll ICE detentions take here in Connecticut.
Here is the source article for this story: CT residents detained by ICE remembered at Hartford vigil
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