Hartford Immigration Activist Taken Away By ICE: Reports

HARTFORD, CT — The city's immigrant community was shocked this week when a well-known immigration activist was disappeared by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

According to CT Mirror.org, Victor Sanchez Sr., a Mexican national whose children are American citizens, was quickly whisked away after being taken by agents at a federal courthouse in Hartford on Wednesday.

He was making a regular appearance in court as he was navigating the process toward naturalization, the CT Mirror reported.

According to CT Mirror, Sanchez is with Make the Road Connecticut, an immigrant advocacy organization, and Hartford Deportation Defense.

Sanchez's activist career has had him testifying before the state legislature to support expanding the state's HUSKY health care program for undocumented children, CT Mirror reported.

A native of Mexico, Sanchez has been in the U.S. since 2004 and has three children, all of whom are native-born, U.S. citizens, the CT Mirror reported.

But he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs in 2019 and was put on probation, which ended in 2020, the CT Mirror reported.

According to Connecticut Public Radio, Sanchez was taken away during a routine check-in at the federal courthouse where he had an immigration case.

Connecticut NPR reported that Sanchez was taken away in handcuffs, and it is unknown what became of him or where he was taken.

The disappearance of Sanchez prompted an impromptu protest at the courthouse on Wednesday, Connecticut NPR reported.

For the full Connecticut Mirror report, click on this link.

For the full Connecticut Public Radio report, click on this link.