Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
ICE Agents Under Scrutiny After Forcible Arrest in New Bedford
New Bedford, MA – A local woman, Marilu Mendez, recounted a tense encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Monday, alleging that agents forcibly apprehended her and her husband, Juan Mendez, despite their cooperation. The incident, captured on video by Mrs. Mendez, shows an ICE agent using a hammer to break their car window during what the couple believes was a case of mistaken identity. The episode has ignited concerns in the community and prompted questions from city officials regarding ICE operational protocols.
Mistaken Identity Claimed During Arrest
According to Marilu Mendez, the ordeal began when unmarked ICE vehicles started tailing their car before cornering them on Tallman Street. As agents approached, Mrs. Mendez began recording the interaction on her cell phone. In the video, an agent can be seen wielding a hammer to shatter the rear passenger window. Mrs. Mendez stated that agents repeatedly addressed her husband as “Antonio,” a different resident of their building.
Believing the agents had confused her husband with someone else, the Mendezes contacted their attorney. The lawyer advised them to remain inside their vehicle and withhold information until she arrived at the scene.
Legal Counsel Alleges Rights Violation
Ondine Galvez Sniffin, the couple’s attorney, informed NBC10 Boston that Juan Mendez, a Guatemalan national, is an undocumented immigrant currently undergoing a process to adjust his immigration status. She emphasized that Mr. Mendez has no criminal record.
Despite the lawyer’s advice and their attempts to cooperate, ICE agents proceeded to smash the car window, forcibly enter the vehicle, and remove the couple.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
“They sought a hammer and shattered the car window, forcibly removing us,” Marilu Mendez conveyed to Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra in Spanish. “Three ICE agents restrained my husband. They extracted us unjustly… I attempted to communicate with them, inquiring if they possessed a warrant for his detention. They offered no response or presented any documentation. They lacked justification to detain him. We have been compliant with the laws of this nation. We are proceeding correctly, which is why we have legal representation.”
Detention and Legal Proceedings
Attorney Galvez Sniffin confirmed that Juan Mendez is currently being held at a detention center in Dover, New Hampshire. A hearing regarding his case is scheduled for May 7.
“My clients were within their rights, acting respectfully and asserting their legal protections, including their right to silence and legal counsel. They were met with brutality,” Galvez Sniffin asserted. “They were met with violence.”
Official Response Requested from ICE
ICE has not yet issued a response to requests for comment from NBC10 Boston regarding the incident.
Mayor Mitchell Calls For Transparency
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell released a public statement on social media Tuesday addressing the controversial arrest.
“The incident raises questions that necessitate clearer answers,” Mayor Mitchell stated. “Recently, ICE appears to have deviated from its established practice of notifying our police department in advance of planned operations. This change poses safety risks to officers, ICE agents, and the general public. It also potentially eliminates opportunities for local law enforcement to assist in de-escalating tense situations such as this recent one.”
Concerns Over ICE Enforcement Priorities
Mayor Mitchell further indicated that there has been no clarification from ICE as to whether their agents are prioritizing the apprehension of convicted criminals or engaging in “an indiscriminate round up of individuals with uncertain immigrant status.” He concluded by stating that the public is owed an explanation from the federal administration.