{"id":512,"date":"2026-01-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/?p=512"},"modified":"2026-04-09T14:22:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:22:26","slug":"ct-communities-push-back-against-deportations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/ct-communities-push-back-against-deportations\/","title":{"rendered":"Communities push back against deportations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Anna Heqi\u00admi
UConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism<\/strong>
<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knock\u00ading on doors in an immi\u00adgrant neigh\u00adbor\u00adhood on a recent fall after\u00adnoon, Selize Mendes was on a mis\u00adsion to inform res\u00adi\u00addents about their con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal rights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selize Mendes places an infor\u00adma\u00adtion\u00adal pack\u00adet pro\u00advid\u00aded by Dan\u00adbury Unites for Immi\u00adgrants near a neigh\u00adbor\u2019s door on Nov. 8, 2025. Mendes wants to keep res\u00adi\u00addents informed about their rights. Pho\u00adto by Anna Heqi\u00admi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mendes, a senior at Dan\u00adbury High School, deliv\u00adered infor\u00adma\u00adtion\u00adal pack\u00adets with Dan\u00adbury Unites for Immi\u00adgrants, a com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty group com\u00adprised of immi\u00adgrants and allies. She joined the effort after a close friend who is an undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrant stopped attend\u00ading after-school activ\u00adi\u00adties in ear\u00adly 2025 for fear of being deport\u00aded.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to be her voice,\u201d Mendes said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut is home to more than a half mil\u00adlion immi\u00adgrants who com\u00adprise about 20 per\u00adcent of the state\u2019s labor force, accord\u00ading to a 2023 esti\u00admate from the Amer\u00adi\u00adcan Immi\u00adgra\u00adtion Coun\u00adcil<\/a>. About 200,000 immi\u00adgrants in the state were esti\u00admat\u00aded to be undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded in 2023, accord\u00ading to the Migra\u00adtion Pol\u00adi\u00adcy Insti\u00adtute<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As detain\u00adments and depor\u00adta\u00adtions ramp up as part of Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump\u2019s aggres\u00adsive immi\u00adgra\u00adtion enforce\u00adment agen\u00adda, Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty groups and res\u00adi\u00addents are ral\u00adly\u00ading to pro\u00advide sup\u00adport for immi\u00adgrants and edu\u00adcate them about their rights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juan Fon\u00adse\u00adca Tapia cofound\u00aded Dan\u00adbury Unites for Immi\u00adgrants<\/a> in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber 2024 to pre\u00adpare for a pos\u00adsi\u00adble sec\u00adond term for Trump. \u201cWe knew that we had to pre\u00adpare,\u201d Fon\u00adse\u00adca Tapia said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the group has a helpline num\u00adber for res\u00adi\u00addents to call, which acti\u00advates a rapid response team that has been very effec\u00adtive. The response team is made up of almost 40 indi\u00advid\u00adu\u00adals, and des\u00adig\u00adnat\u00aded mem\u00adbers dri\u00adve around the city each day to alert res\u00adi\u00addents if they see sus\u00adpi\u00adcious activ\u00adi\u00adty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion also has a sup\u00adport group to help the fam\u00adi\u00adlies of detained immi\u00adgrants, con\u00adnect\u00ading them with attor\u00adneys and help\u00ading to locate their loved ones in the sys\u00adtem. The group has assist\u00aded 13 fam\u00adi\u00adlies so far, Fon\u00adse\u00adca Tapia said. One of the detained indi\u00advid\u00adu\u00adals the group assist\u00aded has been released and reunit\u00aded with his fam\u00adi\u00adly in Dan\u00adbury, he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t let the kid\u00adnap\u00adpings and the dis\u00adap\u00adpear\u00adances hap\u00adpen in obscu\u00adri\u00adty and secre\u00adcy,\u201d Fon\u00adse\u00adca Tapia said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juan Fon\u00adse\u00adca Tapia, co-founder of Dan\u00adbury Unites for Immi\u00adgrants. Fon\u00adse\u00adca Tapia was prepar\u00ading vol\u00adun\u00adteers to inform neigh\u00adbors about their con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal rights dur\u00ading one of the group\u2019s can\u00advass\u00ading days on Nov. 8, 2025. Pho\u00adto by Anna Heqi\u00admi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty can\u00advass\u00ading days, which began in Octo\u00adber 2025, pro\u00advid\u00aded \u201cdirect edu\u00adca\u00adtion and out\u00adreach,\u201d built com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty trust and pro\u00admot\u00aded the group\u2019s new helpline, he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marce\u00adlo Can\u00adtu, orig\u00adi\u00adnal\u00adly from Chile, attend\u00aded his first can\u00advass\u00ading event with the orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion in ear\u00adly Novem\u00adber.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s injus\u00adtice being com\u00admit\u00adted by our very gov\u00adern\u00adment,\u201d Can\u00adtu said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said he vis\u00adit\u00aded over 100 hous\u00ades, but only five opened their doors. Still, he called the day a suc\u00adcess. He dis\u00adtrib\u00aduted pack\u00adets con\u00adtain\u00ading infor\u00adma\u00adtion on rights and what to say to ICE agents if encoun\u00adtered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marce\u00adlo Can\u00adtu (right) with his wife (left). They spent the day inform\u00ading Dan\u00adbury res\u00adi\u00addents of their con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal rights dur\u00ading one of the group\u2019s can\u00advass\u00ading days on Nov. 8, 2025. Pho\u00adto by Anna Heqi\u00admi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Non\u00adprof\u00adits mobi\u00adlize for rapid response<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tabitha Sookdeo, exec\u00adu\u00adtive direc\u00adtor of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Stu\u00addents for a Dream, said fear in her com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty amid imme\u00addi\u00adate detain\u00adments and depor\u00adta\u00adtions has forced her orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion to rapid\u00adly respond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded youth-led orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion cre\u00adat\u00aded emer\u00adgency pro\u00adto\u00adcols and is expand\u00ading net\u00adworks of immi\u00adgra\u00adtion attor\u00adneys in oth\u00ader states such as Geor\u00adgia, Louisiana and Texas since immi\u00adgrants from Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut are being quick\u00adly shipped to deten\u00adtion facil\u00adi\u00adties around the coun\u00adtry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal, Sookdeo said, is \u201cfind the per\u00adson that\u2019s detained and fig\u00adure out a legal strat\u00ade\u00adgy.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She cit\u00aded the deten\u00adtion<\/a> of a Wilbur Cross High School stu\u00addent, Esdr\u00e1s Zabale\u00adta-Ramirez, in New Haven while he was work\u00ading at a car wash. Her group and part\u00adner orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions cre\u00adat\u00aded a depor\u00adta\u00adtion defense fund<\/a> for Zabale\u00adta-Ramirez\u2019s legal fees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sookdeo is orig\u00adi\u00adnal\u00adly from Guyana and became a U.S. cit\u00adi\u00adzen through mar\u00adriage in 2022. As a for\u00admer undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrant, Sookdeo said that she didn\u2019t have to go through near\u00adly as much as undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrants do today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her group hopes to build rela\u00adtion\u00adships with polit\u00adi\u00adcal lead\u00aders and donors and gain new mem\u00adbers through local chap\u00adters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want peo\u00adple to feel bad for us,\u201d Sookdeo said. \u201cI want peo\u00adple to stand up and fight with us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Stu\u00addents for a Dream Exec\u00adu\u00adtive Direc\u00adtor Tabitha Sookdeo dur\u00ading the 2025 Lati\u00adno Pol\u00adi\u00adcy Sum\u00admit in Hart\u00adford on Oct. 4. Sookdeo hopes to build clos\u00ader rela\u00adtion\u00adships with polit\u00adi\u00adcal lead\u00aders and donors to gain new mem\u00adbers in her orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion. Pho\u00adto by Anna Heqi\u00admi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Involved with the group since high school, Emer\u00adson Zece\u00adna said that ongo\u00ading immi\u00adgra\u00adtion enforce\u00adment prompt\u00aded him to cofound the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut chap\u00adter of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Stu\u00addents for a Dream in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber 2025. He said it\u2019s his way of giv\u00ading a \u201cvoice to the voice\u00adless.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cICE needs to be held account\u00adable for their bar\u00adbar\u00adic actions and dehu\u00adman\u00adiz\u00ading nature they have toward undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrants who are just try\u00ading to make a liv\u00ading,\u201d said Zece\u00adna, the son of undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bar\u00adbara Lopez, the exec\u00adu\u00adtive direc\u00adtor of Make the Road Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut<\/a>, a com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty-based orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion work\u00ading for immi\u00adgrant jus\u00adtice, said her orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion pro\u00advides direct legal ser\u00advices, health\u00adcare sup\u00adport and rapid response. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can tes\u00adti\u00adfy that there has been a lot of hunger for com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty mem\u00adbers to be heard and seen, and that\u2019s what I am pas\u00adsion\u00adate about \u2014 for mem\u00adbers to have a voice of why they should be treat\u00aded with dig\u00adni\u00adty and respect,\u201d said Lopez, whose par\u00adents immi\u00adgrat\u00aded from Guatemala. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur peo\u00adple can\u00adnot afford to live. There is a threat of indi\u00advid\u00adu\u00adals los\u00ading their work sta\u00adtus, res\u00adi\u00adden\u00adcy or not hav\u00ading access to path\u00adways to legal cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship. There is a lot of eco\u00adnom\u00adic insta\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty for low-income, mixed-sta\u00adtus com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adties,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lopez said mem\u00adbers of her orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion, which is 10 years old, were learn\u00ading as they were going in the first Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion. Now they feel more pre\u00adpared and have cre\u00adat\u00aded more net\u00adworks. But Trump\u2019s sec\u00adond term has dras\u00adti\u00adcal\u00adly increased depor\u00adta\u00adtions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen every\u00adthing that he did in his first term times 10,\u201d Lopez said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025 alone, ICE removed more than 527,000 undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrants, accord\u00ading to an Octo\u00adber report from the Depart\u00adment of Home\u00adland Secu\u00adri\u00adty. In stark con\u00adtrast, there were just over 61,000 removals of undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrants dur\u00ading the first year of Trump\u2019s first term, accord\u00ading to an ICE report<\/a> mea\u00adsur\u00ading depor\u00adta\u00adtions from Jan. 1, 2017 to Sept. 30, 2017.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are more depor\u00adta\u00adtions, there\u2019s more fear, there\u2019s more anti-immi\u00adgrant rhetoric,\u201d Lopez said. \u201cEvery\u00adthing is inten\u00adsi\u00adfied.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back\u00ading immi\u00adgrant jus\u00adtice <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Lati\u00adno Pol\u00adi\u00adcy Sum\u00admit at the state Leg\u00adisla\u00adtive Office Build\u00ading in ear\u00adly Octo\u00adber gave mem\u00adbers of local com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions a chance to be heard by state leg\u00adis\u00adla\u00adtors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dur\u00ading a pan\u00adel dis\u00adcus\u00adsion titled \u201cRespond\u00ading to Fear with Jus\u00adtice,\u201d immi\u00adgra\u00adtion attor\u00adney Glenn Formi\u00adca told the audi\u00adence that it is impor\u00adtant to chal\u00adlenge every depor\u00adta\u00adtion case.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI say we fight every sin\u00adgle removal even if we lose,\u201d Formi\u00adca said. By doing so, \u201cwe are forc\u00ading the sys\u00adtem to respond,\u201d he added.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immi\u00adgra\u00adtion attor\u00adney Glenn Formi\u00adca (sec\u00adond on right) speak\u00ading dur\u00ading a pan\u00adel dis\u00adcus\u00adsion at the Lati\u00adno Pol\u00adi\u00adcy Sum\u00admit on Oct. 4, 2025. Pho\u00adto by Anna Heqi\u00admi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Formi\u00adca not\u00aded a Sep\u00adtem\u00adber rul\u00ading by the U.S.  Supreme Court that allowed ICE offi\u00adcers to con\u00adtin\u00adue tac\u00adtics such as stop\u00adping indi\u00advid\u00adu\u00adals with\u00adout rea\u00adson\u00adable sus\u00adpi\u00adcion.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response, Formi\u00adca encour\u00adaged cit\u00adi\u00adzens to be bold and will\u00ading to chal\u00adlenge the sys\u00adtem.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you put enough wolves out there, they\u2019re going to be afraid to be bit,\u201d Formi\u00adca said. He sug\u00adgest\u00aded cit\u00adi\u00adzens use their priv\u00adi\u00adlege to pro\u00advoke and con\u00adfuse ICE offi\u00adcers. \u201cIf you\u2019re a U.S. cit\u00adi\u00adzen, speak Span\u00adish, see what hap\u00adpens,\u201d he said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong\u2019s open\u00ading remarks at the sum\u00admit focused on pro\u00adtect\u00ading immi\u00adgrant rights.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong giv\u00ading open\u00ading remarks dur\u00ading the 2025 Lati\u00adno Pol\u00adi\u00adcy Sum\u00admit on Oct. 4. Pho\u00adto by Anna Heqi\u00admi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tong said immi\u00adgra\u00adtion is often cast as a Lati\u00adno issue to mar\u00adgin\u00adal\u00adize and dehu\u00adman\u00adize them. He shared how his own immi\u00adgrant par\u00adents worked sev\u00aden days a week, 12 to 15 hours each day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cAmer\u00adi\u00adca runs on two things,\u201d Tong quipped, \u201cDunkin\u2019 and immi\u00adgrants.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pow\u00ader of protest <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As ICE agents detain undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrants, Avelo Air\u00adlines facil\u00adi\u00adtat\u00aded oper\u00ada\u00adtions by con\u00adduct\u00ading depor\u00adta\u00adtion<\/a> flights. Accord\u00ading to report\u00ading from CT Insid\u00ader and Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Pub\u00adlic, Avelo will no longer par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpate in DHS\u2019 char\u00adter pro\u00adgram of depor\u00adta\u00adtion flights start\u00ading on Jan. 27. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For months, a coali\u00adtion of groups com\u00admit\u00adted to immi\u00adgrant rights from Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut and Mass\u00ada\u00adchu\u00adsetts protest\u00aded Avelo\u2019s involve\u00adment with ICE.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Nov. 1, 2025, the groups cel\u00ade\u00adbrat\u00aded that Avelo will no longer be oper\u00adat\u00ading out of Bradley Inter\u00adna\u00adtion\u00adal Air\u00adport start\u00ading in Jan\u00adu\u00adary<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Majer\u00adcak, a vol\u00adun\u00adteer with Indi\u00advis\u00adi\u00adble Northamp\u00adton \u2014 Swing Left West\u00adern Mass\u00ada\u00adchu\u00adsetts, waved to cars pass\u00ading by as he cel\u00ade\u00adbrat\u00aded on the I\u201175 Over\u00adpass out\u00adside the air\u00adport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur posi\u00adtion is that ICE is ille\u00adgal, immoral and unnec\u00ades\u00adsar\u00adi\u00adly cru\u00adel. We don\u2019t want to sup\u00adport any busi\u00adness that sup\u00adports ICE,\u201d Majer\u00adcak said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group leader and founder of Indi\u00advis\u00adi\u00adble North Cen\u00adtral Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Robin Hen\u00adrie said the goal is to encour\u00adage a boy\u00adcott of the air\u00adline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robin Hen\u00adrie dur\u00ading the \u201cBuh Bye Avelo: WE DID IT! Cel\u00ade\u00adbra\u00adtion and Stand\u00adout\u201d on Nov. 1, 2025. Pho\u00adto by Anna Heqi\u00admi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s real\u00adly impor\u00adtant for peo\u00adple to know not to fly Avelo Air\u00adlines until they stop fly\u00ading depor\u00adta\u00adtion flights for ICE and DHS,\u201d Hen\u00adrie said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hen\u00adrie\u2019s group also planned to protest Avelo at Tweed New Haven Air\u00adport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avelo leav\u00ading Bradley \u201cmeans we are hit\u00adting their pock\u00adet\u00adbook, and com\u00adpa\u00adnies respond to the pock\u00adet\u00adbook,\u201d she said. \u201cIf more peo\u00adple refuse to fly Avelo here out of Tweed New Haven, they will fig\u00adure out they need to stop fly\u00ading those flights or they will go out of busi\u00adness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The groups have also inquired about the rela\u00adtion\u00adship between Avelo Air\u00adlines and UConn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty spokesper\u00adson Stephanie Reitz said there is no direct rela\u00adtion\u00adship between UConn and Avelo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearfield (UConn Sports Prop\u00ader\u00adties) and Avelo are part\u00adnered<\/a> in a UConn Ath\u00adlet\u00adics spon\u00adsor\u00adship agree\u00adment to pro\u00advide Avelo with asset place\u00adment, includ\u00ading sig\u00adnage, pro\u00admo\u00adtion con\u00adtests, PA announce\u00adments, and air\u00adline tick\u00adet con\u00adtests for UConn stu\u00addents at sev\u00ader\u00adal UConn sport\u00ading events such as men\u2019s and wom\u00aden\u2019s bas\u00adket\u00adball, hock\u00adey, and base\u00adball,\u201d Reitz said in an email. \u201cThe spon\u00adsor\u00adship agree\u00adment with Avelo does not include any trav\u00adel by UConn teams or per\u00adson\u00adnel; it is strict\u00adly a mar\u00adket\u00ading arrange\u00adment.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glas\u00adton\u00adbury ther\u00ada\u00adpist Julie Ingenohl protest\u00ading the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion dur\u00ading the Glas\u00adton\u00adbury \u201cNo Kings\u201d ral\u00adly on Oct. 18, 2025. Pho\u00adto by Anna Heqi\u00admi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Octo\u00adber, more than 7 mil\u00adlion peo\u00adple par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpat\u00aded in \u201cNo Kings\u201d events protest\u00ading the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion, accord\u00ading to the nation\u00adal No Kings Alliance. Local\u00adly in Glas\u00adton\u00adbury, more than 2,000 peo\u00adple joined the protest, accord\u00ading to Lisa Chan\u00addler from Take Action CT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie Ingenohl, a Glas\u00adton\u00adbury ther\u00ada\u00adpist, said she par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpat\u00aded to gath\u00ader with like-mind\u00aded peo\u00adple to \u201cstand in num\u00adber to counter any sup\u00adport the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She called the Trump administration\u2019s immi\u00adgra\u00adtion enforce\u00adment actions \u201cdespi\u00adca\u00adble\u201d and \u201cracist.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt feels like the begin\u00adning of geno\u00adcide,\u201d she said.  \u201cThis admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion is becom\u00ading a monar\u00adchy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rev. Richard Allen hold\u00ading a \u201cMelt ICE\u201d sign (left). Allen was protest\u00ading immi\u00adgrant depor\u00adta\u00adtions dur\u00ading a Glas\u00adton\u00adbury \u201cNo Kings\u201d ral\u00adly on Oct. 18, 2025. Pho\u00adto by Anna Heqi\u00admi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rev. Richard Allen, who said he was appalled at the treat\u00adment of immi\u00adgrants and refugees, held a \u201cMelt ICE\u201d sign dur\u00ading the protest. He said he helped set\u00adtle numer\u00adous refugee fam\u00adi\u00adlies dur\u00ading his more than 30 years of ser\u00advice at the Con\u00adgre\u00adga\u00adtion\u00adal Church in South Glas\u00adton\u00adbury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI per\u00adson\u00adal\u00adly wit\u00adnessed the strength and pas\u00adsion they bring,\u201d he said. \u201cI must find ways to resist. One of the ways is to come out\u00adside with a sign that says, \u2018Melt ICE.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Anna Heqi\u00admiUConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism Knock\u00ading on doors in an immi\u00adgrant neigh\u00adbor\u00adhood on a recent fall after\u00adnoon, Selize Mendes was on a mis\u00adsion to inform res\u00adi\u00addents about their con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal rights.  Mendes, a senior at Dan\u00adbury High School, deliv\u00adered infor\u00adma\u00adtion\u00adal pack\u00adets with Dan\u00adbury Unites for Immi\u00adgrants, a com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty group com\u00adprised of immi\u00adgrants and allies. She joined the effort after a close friend who is an undoc\u00adu\u00adment\u00aded immi\u00adgrant stopped attend\u00ading after-school activ\u00adi\u00adties in ear\u00adly [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":976,"featured_media":567,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,11],"tags":[74,71,69,73,70,72,75,67],"class_list":["post-512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communities","category-immigration","tag-american-immigration-council","tag-avelo-airlines","tag-community-response","tag-connecticut-students-for-a-dream","tag-danbury-unites-for-immigrants","tag-make-the-road-connecticut","tag-migration-policy-institute","tag-no-kings"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMM-COMM-Heqimi-001.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":510,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/immigrant-crackdown-felt-in-ct\/","url_meta":{"origin":512,"position":0},"title":"Fear & no due process: first year of Trump immigrant crackdown felt throughout Connecticut","author":"Anna Heqimi","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Anna Heqimi & Karla PerezUConn Journalism Two high school students. Eighteen minors.\u00a0Hundreds of\u00a0arrests in\u00a0nearly 20\u00a0different\u00a0towns.\u00a0Ramped up\u00a0immigration enforcement\u00a0efforts\u00a0have\u00a0affected\u00a0communities across\u00a0Connecticut.\u00a0\u00a0 In just the first six months of President Donald Trump\u2019s second term,\u00a0Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u00a0made\u00a0almost 400 arrests\u00a0in Connecticut, according to\u00a0the Deportation Data Project.\u00a0While the administration claimed it would\u00a0target\u00a0\"the worst of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Immigration"","block_context":{"text":"Immigration","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/immigration\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ICE_video_screengrab-scaled.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ICE_video_screengrab-scaled.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ICE_video_screengrab-scaled.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ICE_video_screengrab-scaled.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ICE_video_screengrab-scaled.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/ICE_video_screengrab-scaled.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":334,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/uncertainty-roils-schools-as-trump-targets-k-12\/","url_meta":{"origin":512,"position":1},"title":"Uncertainty roils schools as Trump targets K\u201112","author":"Bridget Bronsdon","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"It started almost right away. Within nine days of President Donald Trump\u2019s return to office, he set his sights on education.","rel":"","context":"In "Education"","block_context":{"text":"Education","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":507,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/with-fewer-refugees-ct-groups-seek-new-ways-to-help\/","url_meta":{"origin":512,"position":2},"title":"With fewer refugees, Connecticut volunteers seek new ways to help  ","author":"Anna Heqimi","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Anna HeqimiUConn Journalism When\u00a0Doina Lavoie-Gonci and\u00a0other\u00a0volunteers with the Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee learned about the plight of a pregnant mother of\u00a0three\u00a0from Honduras whose husband had been deported, they\u00a0took action, working\u00a0to\u00a0identify\u00a0organizations and resources that could help.\u00a0 Doina Lavoie-Gonci (middle) with Mark Staves (left) and Jo-Ann Staves (right) posing for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Immigration"","block_context":{"text":"Immigration","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/immigration\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMM-REF-SUPPORT-Heqimi-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMM-REF-SUPPORT-Heqimi-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMM-REF-SUPPORT-Heqimi-001.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMM-REF-SUPPORT-Heqimi-001.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMM-REF-SUPPORT-Heqimi-001.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMM-REF-SUPPORT-Heqimi-001.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":347,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/due-process\/","url_meta":{"origin":512,"position":3},"title":"Due Process","author":"Mikayla Bunnell","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Connecticut ACLU Legal Director Dan Barrett at the University of Connecticut on Sept. 25, 2025. 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By Mikayla BunnellUConn Journalism The Fifth and 14th Amendments establish the right that no one in the U.S. shall be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Constitution"","block_context":{"text":"Constitution","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/constitution\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/EXEC-FIRST3-Barrett.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, 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