PoliticsICE Says It 'Will Not Be Stopping' Enforcement Despite Sen. Blumenthal's Danbury Forum Criticism
Richard Blumenthal spoke about the harrowing stories he heard from those affected by ICE.
Sept. 4 2026, Published 4:05 p.m. ET
The Department of Homeland Security is taunting Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal over his condemnation of ICE.
"ICE is enforcing the law as written by Congress and we will not be stopping," they wrote in a sneering statement after Blumenthal described hearing testimony of ICE's actions during a Danbury town forum.
Blumenthal Heard Stories From Families Affected By ICE
Blumenthal criticized ICE at a Danbury public forum.
Blumenthal, 80, held a public forum on September 3 where he heard about how ICE has affected local families and communities.
"The stories that I heard were absolutely gripping and riveting, heartbreaking, earlier today in not only the emotion, but the trauma, the lasting trauma that will be created for children who will come home at the end of the day and find their parents gone, or who watch from a school bus, as we were told earlier," he said at the event. "Elementary and middle school children in school buses, watching ICE throw people to the ground, taser them, manhandle them, physical brutality as they watched in real time."
ICE Sneered Back at Blumenthal
ICE mocked Blumenthal and Connecticut in response.
When asked to respond to Blumenthal's comments by NBC Connecticut, DHS mocked the senator, suggesting he try and stop them.
"We would remind Senator Blumenthal, perhaps most well-known for fabricating a military service record during the Vietnam War, that he has the ability to change the law if he doesn’t like it," they responded.
Blumenthal served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve during the Vietnam War and never served overseas, though he multiple times appeared to claim he had actually fought in the country during his first Senate campaign in 2010.
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ICE Taunted Blumenthal and Governor Lamont
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont made clear the state did not welcome ICE.
The DHS went on to list some Connecticut individuals they had rounded up that they dubbed "the worst of the worst." Of the four individuals they listed, two were arrested for sexual assault, one for violating a restraining order, and one arrested for drunk driving.
"ICE is again calling on pro-criminal alien politician Senator Blumenthal to put Americans first and to tell [Connecticut] Governor [Ned] Lamont to honor our detainers so we can take custody of illegal aliens who pose a public safety threat in our communities," they added.
Lamont Has Resisted ICE
ICE suggested Blumenthal try and stop them from operating.
Connecticut has resisted ICE activity in the state.
On August 26, Lamont put out a statement making clear that the state did not want ICE there.
"Let me be clear: Connecticut does not want, nor do we need, the type of presence ICE has had in our state this week," he wrote. "Connecticut has some of the lowest crime rates in the country, thanks to the excellent work our state and local police do to keep violent criminals off our streets. Rounding up people at random to fill a quota does not lower crime. It traumatizes families and communities."
Lamont also provided advice and resources to those detained by immigration officers.
