SCSU groups call for return of CT nursing student detained by ICE. ‘We’re in the struggle together’

Hartford Courant – Monday, April 6, 2026
By Sean Krofssik

Southern Connecticut State University students, facility and community members made their voices heard during a rally Monday for a student that was reportedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week outside of a courthouse in Middletown.

The rally attracted more than 100 people holding signs in an hour-long event in front of SCSU’s Buley Library on the New Haven campus.

“What brought me here today is the news that one of our students was kidnapped by ICE,” said SCSU student Tate Kerr, one of the rally organizers. “One of our students, a working-class person, was snatched off the street. We need to use this rally to make as big and as bold of a statement possible and our demands to bring this student home will be met.”

Kerr said she learned about the student being detained over the weekend and organizers put the event together quickly. The student’s name was not mentioned during the rally out of privacy.

“I made some calls to put together a rally and that was widely received and it’s turned into something bigger, a lot bigger than just a student gathering, which is inspiring,” Kerr said.

The event also speakers from various immigration advocate organizations throughout Connecticut, in addition to the SCSU students, staff and faculty.

“The student body is very angry about this, and every student has the right to be angry about this because as young people, we’ve grown up in the era of war, of climate doom and of a worsening economy,” Kerr said. “I think there’s a basic understanding that we’re in the struggle together and we need to put forth this fight fully as we would fight for anyone else.”

John Lugo, co-founder and community organizing director of Unidad Latina en Acción in New Haven said the student came legally to this country and was detained last week in Middletown by ICE outside of the courthouse. Lugo said he believes the student is being held in an ICE facility in New England.

“It’s the student’s first year, I think she started in September,” Lugo said. “She was really happy. She was going to nursing school, and then this situation happened, and now that’s really creating a lot of chaos on her family.”

Lugo said he has heard about similar incident involving ICE at least once a week in the state. He spoke briefly at the rally and appeared behind the microphone with two children whose father was deported by ICE. Both children briefly spoke.

“A lot of these families don’t know their resources in the community and go to court by themselves and that is how they are getting detained,” Lugo said. “Many of these people don’t have family members and are afraid to talk about it with friends. The majority of the cases we are not aware of and that’s a big problem right now.

“They are targeting people going from their homes to courthouses,” he added. “We live in a sanctuary city in a sanctuary state, and I feel eventually we will become a target.”

Lugo said the key to this not happening again is education and telling people how to avoid encounters with ICE.

“The more education, the less likely they will be detained by ICE,” Lugo said. “I keep telling families, ‘Don’t stay by yourself. Join the church or other groups we have around Connecticut. Don’t stay alone, because when you’re going to need help, you’re going to need to meet people. You’re going to need your community.’”

Dr. Stephen Monroe Tomczak, who works in SCSU’s social work department, spoke in support of the detained student.

“I think it’s always a shock when you hear about a student or anyone being snatched off the street by an authoritarian government,” Tomczak said. “I think that those of us who privileged enough have a responsibility to stand up and speak out against this stuff because it’s unconscionable what’s going on.

“It was one of the more impressive protest turnouts I think I’ve seen here,” he added. “We serve a population of working-class students who often have several jobs, and they don’t have the time to come out and protest. To have a turnout like this it was pretty intense.”

Tomczak said pushback is needed against ICE.

“As a faculty member, as a tenured full professor, I feel a particularly responsibility to stand up against this stuff,” Tomczak said.

Sam Morrison, a member of the New Haven Immigrants Coalition as well as a SCSU graduate student, was one of the emcees of the event. She led several chants in support of immigrants.

“The student deserves to remain in her community and continue her studies without being terrorized by these … armed agents,” Morrison said. “Communities are being attacked and students and working people are being kidnapped. We don’t stand for this. We demand that our neighbor comes back home safely.

“Here at Southern, immigrant students and workers are essential parts of the SCSU community, and this university, this city and this state are as much our home as it is anyone else’s home. We need to see the university take divisive action to protect all immigrant students and workers,” she added.

Esteban Garcia also spoke at the rally. He is the co-chair of the Dreamers Alliance at SCSU. He said his group works with students to advocate for the immigrant population.

“I’m here because I was asked by many of my students who are undocumented, and they wanted to share some words with you, but they can’t because they are in the shadows,” Garcia said. “I did not know the student that was detained by ICE, but I spoke to some of her professors and advisors and they remarked this person is someone with a lot of potential and that is the type of person we want here in the U.S.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro said in a statement released on social media on Monday that said she was aware of reports that a student at at the university had been detained by ICE.

“My office has been in touch with leaders at the University and we are working together to gather more information,” DeLauro said in the post.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to offset legal fees for the detained student.

“These are the people we need, and these are the people who are coming to our campus,” Garcia said. “It’s great for all of us to be here but the priority for now is to support the financial needs for legal resources.”

SCSU interim president Dr. Sandy Bulmer did not immediately respond when asked for comment on Monday. The university did release a statement to students last week regarding the situation.

“We are aware that one of our students has been detained by immigration authorities off campus and in another municipality. At this time, we are working to gather more information while respecting the privacy of the individual and their family. Importantly, there has been no report of ICE activity on Southern’s campus,” Bulmer said in the statement.

“We understand that this situation may cause concern for students, faculty, staff, and families. Our priority remains the safety, well-being and dignity of everyone at Southern. We are committed to supporting anyone affected and making sure our campus remains a safe and welcoming place for all.”

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