NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) — There have been several reports that confirm Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been making their way to car washes across the state and taking employees into custody.
Ebaa Mohmed with the Muslim Justice Center told News 8 that four workers were taken by ICE at East Street Car Wash and Optimo Car Wash in New Britain on Monday.
VIDEO: Danbury man approached by undercover ICE agents
Monday’s ICE raid was not the first time agents appeared at a local car wash.
A Wilbur Cross High School student was picked up at an East Haven car wash on July 21.
In June, workers were picked up at D Hand Car Wash in Southington.
Maggie Mitchell Salem, the Executive Director of Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, believes people are being detained that do not have criminal records, yet they are being removed because of their nationality.
“It is a deliberate policy of creating fear and uncertainty in these communities, and it’s working,” she said. “The impact on employers, on taxes, on everything as simple as receiving a service like car washes. These are services we count on every day and think about who is staffing those services.”
In a statement, the city of New Britain said, “ICE does not communicate about their operations with local municipalities.”
News 8 reached out to ICE for a comment on these ice raids at car washes, but they did not respond.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
Comments