A surveillance video shared with CT Insider captured the arrest of Nancy Martinez on June 9, 2025, by ICE agents, which prompted a rally in downtown New Haven three days later. Martinez, who was later deported to Mexico, has filed a federal lawsuit over the arrest.Contributed photoNEW HAVEN — Before federal immigration agents arrested Nancy Martinez last year, she would pack her son’s lunch so he could have his favorite foods during the special education classes he took over the summer.Now Martinez lives in Mexico, where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported her about a month after her arrest. In her absence, Martinez’s 14-year-old daughter has taken over many of the responsibilities of caring for him back in New Haven.Article continues below this adThose details are part of a civil complaint Martinez filed against the U.S. government Monday morning in U.S. District Court on behalf of herself and her two children, identified only by their initials. The lawsuit challenges Martinez’s arrest, alleging ICE acted outside the law when it took her into custody and deported her to Mexico last summer.“One year and six days ago, I lost everything,” Martinez told reporters through a Spanish interpreter during a press conference Monday morning at Yale Law School, where she appeared via video link from Mexico City. “I’m here to remind New Haven’s immigrant community that we are not alone.”More NewsThe case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley.Article continues below this adGreenwich Time LogoMake us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search.Add Preferred SourceICE and its parent agency, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, did not immediately return an email requesting comment Monday afternoon.Three cars carrying masked ICE agents boxed in the family’s car as Martinez was about to drive her two children to school early on the morning of June 9, 2025, according to the complaint. The lawsuit says the agents never communicated with Martinez in Spanish and did not produce a warrant nor identify themselves as ICE officers, saying only that they were “with the police.”Once the agents had handcuffed Martinez and placed her in one of the vehicles, one used his hand to mime a plane taking off — a gesture Martinez took as a clear threat to deport her, according to the complaint.Article continues below this ad“In that moment, I finally understood that this was ICE and that they were taking me away from my family, my community and my home,” she said at the press conference.After the arrest, the complaint says ICE agents left Martinez’s daughter and son in the care of their grandmother without speaking to her or confirming her identity or her relationship with the children."Before departing the scene, officers confirmed that Martinez’s mother was home and would be able to look after her children," DHS said in a statement to CT Insider. “ICE does not separate families. Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates. This is consistent with past administration’s immigration enforcement."The agency, which noted past criminal charges Martinez faced, added that "being in detention is a choice."Article continues below this ad"Parents can take control of their departure with the CBP Home app and reserve the chance to come back the right legal way," the agency said. "The United States is offering illegal aliens $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.”Martinez spent about a month moving among ICE detention facilities in Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire and Texas before authorities drove her to the U.S.-Mexico border and deported her, the complaint says.She grew emotional at times on Monday, choking up when she talked about not attending her daughter’s upcoming 15th birthday, or Quinceañera — an important milestone in many Spanish-speaking communities.Her daughter spoke briefly after her mother, standing at a podium and reading softly from a prepared statement as her 9-year-old brother looked on.Article continues below this ad“I have had to do things that young people should not have to do without their mothers,” her daughter said, fighting back tears. “I feel like I used to be a normal kid.”“I need someone to talk to, to help my brother so he doesn’t fall behind,” she added. “I need some fun as well.”Martinez came to the attention of ICE after police arrested her in March 2025 after a “minor altercation” with her sister-in-law that resulted in charges of third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace, according to the complaint. Martinez completed a court-ordered anger management in May 2025, and prosecutors dropped the case after her arrest by ICE.A surveillance video shared with CT Insider last June captured that ICE arrest, which prompted a rally in downtown New Haven three days later.Article continues below this adICE arrested Martinez the same day Gov. Ned Lamont signed one of two bills last year that expanded the Trust Act, a state law that places strict limits on how state and local law enforcement and other officials can cooperate with federal immigration authorities.The complaint alleges ICE arrested Martinez and other Connecticut residents in part to retaliate for that law, along with pro-immigrant policies enacted by the city of New Haven.“Our immigration system is not a tool in which the federal government can ridicule, humiliate or otherwise intimidate the people we call this country home,” said Brenda Cachay Gutierrez, a law student intern with Yale’s Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic, which is representing Martinez in the case. “The rule of law demands that all people deserve dignity and respect.”A host of officials and advocates joined Martinez at the press conference Monday, including U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.Article continues below this ad“We are fighters in New Haven, and we will continue to fight to protect people that want to be productive members of our community,” Elicker said, before turning to address Martinez’s children. “My heart goes out to you all for all the trauma that you’ve experienced, but you also give us a lot of hope today.”Blumenthal has been a vocal advocate for several Connecticut residents who have been arrested by ICE, including a Meriden high school student arrested last year and an Afghan father and son who where both arrested in separate incidents. Blumenthal began his remarks by addressing the children, explaining that he was their senator and represented them in Washington, D.C.“Your mom should be here,” he told the two children as they sat side-by-side in the middle of the press conference. “Nancy Martinez should be right here.”Then, he repeated a sentiment he has expressed at similar press conferences over the past year-and-a-half for other Connecticut residents arrested by ICE.Article continues below this ad“What I see in this story I don’t recognize as American,” Blumenthal said. “Americans should be absolutely repulsed by what ICE has done here.”This story has been updated to reflect a statement from DHS Tuesday that followed a request for comment.June 15, 2026|Updated June 16, 2026 4:55 p.m.Investigative reporterJoshua Eaton is an investigative reporter at Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Before joining Hearst, he was on investigative and enterprise teams at NBC News, CQ Roll Call and ThinkProgress. His work has also appeared at The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The New Republic, Kaiser Health News, Al Jazeera America, The Intercept and elsewhere.