West Hartford Restaurateur Released from ICE Custody
The offices of Representative John B. Larson and Senator Richard Blumenthal announced on Friday that Seyo Sekunjanin, a West Hartford restaurateur whose detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sparked significant controversy, has been released.
Sekunjanin, the owner of Portobello, returned home on Thursday night, 12 days after federal immigration agents arrested him in West Hartford and held him at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, Rhode Island.
Originally from the former Yugoslav province of Montenegro, which was part of Serbia prior to its independence, Sekunjanin immigrated to the United States in 1997. However, he entered the country illegally with a falsified passport in March 1997, resulting in a deportation order issued by an immigration judge six months later, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The detention of individuals by ICE has seen a marked increase, with over 10,000 arrests nationwide in just five days at the end of June. Despite Sekunjanin’s release, uncertainty remains regarding the conditions surrounding his release and the future of his immigration status.
Larson and Blumenthal shared the news of Sekunjanin’s release through a press statement and social media. Blumenthal remarked that their advocacy efforts had validated his case, expressing relief for Sekunjanin’s return home. He noted the significance of this moment as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
In a Facebook post, Larson expressed his relief upon receiving the news that Sekunjanin was home in West Hartford. Both Larson and Blumenthal, along with other Democratic officials, had publicly called for Sekunjanin’s release during a news conference held earlier in the week outside West Hartford City Hall. The event faced criticism from conservative voices, including talk radio host Reese Hopkins, who contended that the officials had insufficient information at the time.
Blumenthal maintained that regardless of any potential immigration issues Sekunjanin may face, there was no justification for his arrest by ICE. He emphasized that Sekunjanin was in the process of seeking permanent residency and had received official clearance to travel outside the country.
Blumenthal described the actions taken against Sekunjanin as “cruel and unconscionable,” asserting that he posed no threat or risk of flight. He vowed to continue supporting Sekunjanin in his pursuit of permanent legal status. Meanwhile, representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE were unavailable for comment on Friday, as it was a federal holiday. DHS confirmed that Sekunjanin had left the country but noted that his case had been mishandled during the previous administration.
An anonymous DHS official stated in an email that Sekunjanin had repeatedly violated U.S. immigration laws over two decades, underscoring the agency’s commitment to enforcing immigration policies. Markwayne Mullin serves as the Secretary of Homeland Security.
This article was produced with contributions from the Associated Press.
