Full Breakdown
Danbury City Council Approves Non-Citizen Police Officers Amid DHS Backlash
9/9/2026, 2:10:22 AM
Core Decision and Immediate Reaction
The Danbury, Connecticut city council voted 18-2 to allow legal non-citizen immigrants and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to serve as police officers. Councilmember Joe Britton said the timing was intended to respond to recent ICE operations and to reassure the city’s immigrant community that they are welcome. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson countered that the council should be thanking law-enforcement for removing dangerous criminals, arguing that an oath of office obligates officers to uphold the law rather than “encourage criminal illegal aliens.”
ICE Operations and Criminal Arrests
In August, ICE conducted operations across Connecticut that resulted in more than 65 arrests, according to an ICE news release. DHS reported that those arrested included individuals convicted of assault, sexual assault, false imprisonment, molestation of a minor, and weapons offenses. Specific cases cited involved Guatemalan nationals Eddy Ruano (molestation of a minor) and Ericko Valenuela-Chua (sex assault and related crimes), Nicaraguan national Elvin Caceres-Martinez (multiple assault offenses and illegal weapon possession), and Ecuadorian national Frank Guaman (sex assault and false imprisonment).
Official Statements & Responses
The DHS spokesperson emphasized that criticism of ICE should cease, noting that ICE agents regularly risk their lives to enforce U.S. law and apprehend criminal illegal aliens, including gang members and rapists. The spokesperson also claimed that rhetoric like Britton’s contributes to a reported more-than-1,300 % rise in assaults against ICE personnel. Britton, speaking to Fox News Digital, rejected the DHS characterization of his remarks, stating he has no objection to arresting violent criminals but objects to using a handful of serious cases to justify enforcement tactics that generate fear in immigrant communities. He argued that public safety improves when residents trust local government and law-enforcement rather than living in fear of raids. The office of Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves did not provide comment.
Data and Statistics
- Council vote: 18-2 in favor of non-citizen officers.
- ICE arrests in August: >65 individuals.
- Reported increase in assaults on ICE agents: >1,300 % (according to DHS).
- Criminal convictions cited: assault, sexual assault, false imprisonment, molestation of a minor, weapons offenses.
Why It Matters
The decision highlights a growing tension between local jurisdictions seeking inclusive policing policies and federal immigration authorities emphasizing criminal enforcement. The dispute underscores how immigration-related law-enforcement actions can affect community trust, political discourse, and perceptions of public safety in cities with sizable immigrant populations.
