WALLINGFORD, Conn. -- A family described a fearful experience involving federal officers storming their house, but officials said everything was done by the book.

"They terrified my children and me and now we are scarred for life. My children have nightmares," said Souhair Zaim-Sassi.

The Moroccan family from Wallingford said Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided their home on Timber Lane just after 5:30 a.m. on Monday and took Zaim-Sassi's husband, Said, into custody.

"I said, 'Please, who are you? I don't know who you are.' They never announced their name to us, never told us they are," Souhair Zaim-Sassi said. "They horrified me and my children. They came in there and just started going up to the children's bedrooms and flashing lights. It was like a drug raid. I didn't understand, I thought they were going to hurt us."

Souhair Zaim-Sassi said her husband is a documented immigrant with no criminal record who has worked at Metro-North for years.

The family said Said Zaim-Sassi has never missed an appointment with immigration officials in the past three years. Souhair Zaim-Sassi said agents wearing black quickly flashed a warrant and proceeded to conduct themselves unprofessionally.

"(I told the agents,) 'Please, we don't use this profanity. I've never used this in my house. Don't swear like that in front of my children. And please don't hurt him. What did he do?'" Souhair Zaim-Sassi said. "I am still in shock. I don't know why they are taking him."

The family said that whatever the reason for coming to get Said, it was unnecessary for a man who always complied with the law.

When asked by Eyewitness News, Souhair Zaim-Sassi's sister, Jawahir Hamidi, said there were no weapons in the house and no one resisted the agents.

"The only thing that we were asking is, 'Who are you?' And, 'What do you want?'" Hamidi said.

"What is the image you have your brother-in-law as he left this house?" Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Leon Collins asked Hamidi.

"Oh God. He was hog-tied. I never thought I would see him like that. He's a strong individual, but that day, they treated him worse than an animal," Hamidi said.

Feds Respond To Family's Claims

An ICE representative in Boston told Eyewitness News that no agents used profanity during the arrest and the that family was evasive.

The family said they were confused and frightened by the people with guns who they said threatened to break their door down.

The ICE representative told Eyewitness News that everything was done by the book when agents arrested Said Zaim-Sassi. The representative said an immigration court recently decided to deport Said Zaim-Sassi.

The family has organized a protest to take place outside the Hartford immigration office on Main Street on Friday at 8 a.m.

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