Sead (Seyo) Cecunjanin was released Thursday, and back at work at Portobello Restaurant on Park Road.

 By Ronni Newton

Less than a week ago the community learned that a West Hartford resident and business owner had been walking out of a Dunkin’ Donuts on Park Road with two of his sons when he was apprehended, handcuffed, and taken into custody by agents from ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) – but on Thursday, July 2, Sead (Seyo) Cecunjanin had been released and was back in West Hartford with his family and working at one of his businesses.

A member of West Hartford’s Democratic Town Committee was at one of those businesses – Portobello Restaurant at 132 Park Road – on Thursday night when Cecunjanin returned, and shared the below photo.

Seyo Cecunjanin was back at Portobello Restaurant on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Courtesy photo

West Hartford Democrats posted the following on their Facebook page on Friday morning.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal issued the following statement on Friday morning: “Seyo’s release is a magnificent start to the July 4th celebration. So proud of all the community who rallied around Seyo as Congressman Larson and I fought for his release. Our letters, protests, and work behind the scenes vindicated his cause. Seyo’s son, Emir, tells me he’s ‘doing great.’ As well, he deserves to be,” Blumenthal said. “His courage and faith are a lesson to all of us on this 250th national birthday. I look forward to welcoming him home. ICE seizing and detaining him was cruel and unconscionable. He was never a flight risk, or a danger to anyone. I’ll support his efforts to gain permanent legal status and more. Welcome home Seyo!”

U.S. Rep. John Larson also issued a statement on Friday morning: “WELCOME HOME, SEYO!! We were so relieved to get the call we’d been hoping for from Seyo Cecunjanin last night, letting us know he was back home in West Hartford. This is what it looks like to stand up to ICE and win. Our community sent a powerful message: we will not stand by as ICE ambushes and abducts our valued community members. Seyo is back where he belongs – with his family.”

Seyo Cecunjanin (center) with two of his sons at Portobello Restaurant on Thursday night after his release. Courtesy of U.S. Rep. John Larson

Cecunjanin, who has lived in West Hartford since 1997, raised three sons in town, and is the owner of Portobello Restaurant on Park Road in West Hartford and The Laundry Room on the Ave on Farmington Avenue, was taken into custody in the parking lot of the Dunkin Donuts at 56 Park Road, just east of his restaurant, on Saturday, June 20. Reports indicate that five unmarked vehicles surrounded him and his family, and agents with guns drawn took him into custody.

He was being held at the Wyatt detention facility in Central Falls, RI.

Several days after being unable to secure Cecunjanin’s release or find out more information about why he had been detained, family members sought the assistance of Larson and Blumenthal, as well as other officials. They held a press conference at West Hartford Town Hall on Monday, June 29, where multiple officials called for details about the reason for Cecunjanin’s detention – which had not been provided at that time – and calling for his release.

Members of the community also held a rally at Town Hall the following day, also calling for Cecunjanin’s release, and criticizing ICE.

The Department of Homeland Security did provide a statement to We-Ha.com and other media outlets following Monday’s press conference, stating that Cecunjanin, whom they referred to as a “criminal illegal alien,” had initially entered the country illegally with a fake Dutch passport in March 1997, and had been issued an order of removal in September 1997. The statement also cited a “previous DUI conviction,” and said that he had left the country and returned in 2024. DHS did not respond to a request for clarification about their statement, including when and where the DUI conviction took place. A search of online court records does not indicate any convictions.

Cecunjanin is a native of Montenegro, who settled in Connecticut after fleeing to the United States in 1997, when Montenegro was still part of Yugoslavia, amid the political turmoil and “Slobodan Milošević’s genocidal campaign of ethnic cleansing,” according to officials.

A letter provided to We-Ha.com, dated July 1, 2026 and addressed to Patricia Hyde, Boston Acting Field Director for ICE, signed by Larson and Blumenthal as well as two other members of Connecticut’s Congressional Delegation – U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-4th) and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-3rd) – requested confirmation that Cecunjanin was “being detained under humane and sanitary conditions,” and called for his release while his immigration case is pending as well as detailed information.

The July 1 letter states: “Mr. Cecunjanin’s had an I-130 approved in 2019. He also filed an I-485 ‘adjustment of status’ to work towards becoming a lawful permanent resident in September 2023. He was last interviewed in October 2025, just 9 months ago. Mr. Cecunjanin received a valid employment authorization document (EAD), two months ago, and he has an I-512 Advance Parole, which has allowed him to travel outside the U.S. to visit his dying father and return while his adjustment of status remains pending. By all accounts Mr. Cecunjanin is doing everything that our complicated immigration system is asking of him and raising three upstanding young men on his own while running small businesses and employing members of the community,” the lawmakers wrote to ICE officials.

Questions remain unanswered about Cecunjanin’s initial detention as well as what led to his release on Thursday. West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor told We-Ha.com on Friday that she has requested additional information.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.