Man Facing Attempted Arson Charges In Danbury Arrested By ICE, Prosecutors Say

DANBURY, CT — A man facing attempted arson charges was arrested by federal immigration authorities in Danbury this week and charged with illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported, according to federal prosecutors.

Edvin Obdulio Barnica-Esquivel, 34, a citizen of Guatemala, was arrested June 22 during an immigration enforcement operation at Connecticut Superior Court in Danbury, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.

Federal prosecutors said Barnica-Esquivel was previously deported from the United States in 2012 and again in 2019 following a New Jersey aggravated assault conviction.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Barnica-Esquivel was living in Danbury at the time of his most recent arrest and had pending state charges stemming from an October 2025 arrest for attempted arson, criminal mischief and breach of peace.

Court records show he was released on a $20,000 bond in that case.

Federal officials said Barnica-Esquivel appeared in Bridgeport federal court Monday and was detained.

If convicted of illegal reentry after deportation, he faces up to two years in prison.

The latest arrest drew attention because it occurred at Danbury Superior Court, where immigration enforcement activity has become a point of debate in recent weeks.

In a statement, ICE defended courthouse arrests and said federal immigration enforcement is not controlled by Connecticut's sanctuary policies.

"The ability of law enforcement to make arrests of criminal illegal aliens in courthouses is common sense," an ICE spokesperson said. "It conserves valuable law enforcement resources because they already know where a target will be."

The agency also cited the U.S. Constitution's Supremacy Clause, which generally provides that federal law supersedes conflicting state laws.

Judicial Branch officials later confirmed that ICE presented a judicial warrant before the arrest and that court marshals verified the paperwork in accordance with Connecticut's new courthouse enforcement law.

The arrest occurred weeks after Connecticut enacted a law limiting civil immigration arrests in and around state courthouses. The law generally requires immigration authorities to present a judicial warrant signed by a judge before making an arrest on court grounds and requires judicial marshals to verify the paperwork before an apprehension takes place.

According to federal prosecutors, Barnica-Esquivel was first removed to Guatemala in 2012 after being apprehended near the U.S.-Mexico border. He was deported a second time in 2019 after serving a prison sentence in New Jersey for aggravated assault.

Federal authorities allege he later reentered the United States illegally and remained in Connecticut until his recent arrest.