In January 2025, DHS rescinded the sensitive-locations guidance that had restricted ICE enforcement near schools, hospitals, and houses of worship. That policy change is the operational context for this week's events in Danbury, Connecticut, where a targeted vehicle stop has set off a public dispute between White House border czar Tom Homan and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., over whether ICE agents targeted parents at school bus stops.
Murphy posted to X on Friday alleging that ICE in Danbury was sitting at school bus stops "just to terrorize little kids" rather than pursuing criminals. Homan, appearing on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, called that characterization political. ICE is not in the business of terrorizing children, he said. The agency is enforcing laws enacted by Congress. He acknowledged that agents do arrest undocumented parents but said that is separate from targeting children. He said he was unaware of the specific bus-stop arrest and would seek more information. He confirmed the sensitive-locations policy is no longer in effect.
What the Danbury operation produced
DHS identified the person arrested during Wednesday's vehicle stop as Leonel Geovanny Morocho-Arteaga, 28. The department said Morocho-Arteaga entered the country illegally and was arrested and released by Border Patrol in 2021. Agents found a large kitchen knife in his center console during the stop. Federal court records show he filed a habeas corpus petition in Connecticut on the same day. DHS said a child connected to the case remained under her mother's guardianship, without clarifying the relationship.
Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves said close to 50 community members were detained during the week's operation and described ICE activity near schools and a daycare. An advocacy group said four parents were taken while school buses were present. DHS did not provide a total count for the week's enforcement activity or identify others detained beyond Morocho-Arteaga.
A DHS spokesperson called Murphy's account "a work of fiction aimed at scoring cheap political points," and cited a 1,300 percent increase in assaults against ICE officers, a 3,200 percent increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000 percent increase in death threats as context for the conditions agents currently face.