New Haven officials decry ICE detentions at Tweed Airport

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and Senator Richard Blumenthal have criticized recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions at Tweed New Haven Airport and Bradley International Airport. Officials noted that those detained, including a South Sudanese student and an Ecuadorian student, reportedly had no criminal records and possessed a legal basis to remain in the country.

Mayor Elicker sent a letter to the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority and its operator, Avports, urging them to follow federal law without providing additional assistance to ICE beyond mandatory requirements. He also addressed reports of demonstrators being removed from airport property while attempting to observe federal law enforcement activity.

In response, Tweed management stated that federal rules require airports to grant unescorted access to government employees and that their procedures are designed to maintain a safe and secure environment. Attorney Glenn Formica, representing affected individuals, highlighted the trauma and difficult conditions faced by detainees, noting they lack certain rights, such as court-appointed attorneys, afforded to those facing criminal charges.