On April 14, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began tailing the vehicle of Marilu and Juan Mendez.
The Mendez couple were driving through New Bedford, Massachusetts, when they found themselves encircled by ICE vehicles.
The ICE agents allegedly kept addressing Juan as Antonio, leading the couple to suspect a case of mistaken identity.
They contacted their attorney, Ondine Galvez Sniffin, who advised them to stay in the car and refrain from providing any information to the agents.
Despite this, ICE agents attempted to reach Juan, with two officers seen breaking the car window.
Once inside the vehicle, the agents reportedly ‘dragged’ Marilu and Juan out.
See the frightening incident here:
According to their lawyer, Marilu is seeking asylum in the US, while Juan is undocumented but working to change that status.
The attorney also mentioned that Juan has no criminal history.
Marilu recounted the terrifying event to Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra, as reported by NBC: “They looked for a hammer and they broke the car window and dragged us out of the car.
“Three ICE agents held my husband. They took us out unjustly… I tried to talk to them and ask them if they had an order to detain him. They didn’t respond or show me anything.
“They had no reason to detain him. We’ve been following the rules of this country. We are doing things the right way. That’s why we have a lawyer.”
Juan is currently held at a detention center in Dover, New Hampshire, and has a hearing scheduled for May 7, according to their lawyer.
Galvez Sniffin asserts that her clients were exercising their rights. She stated to NBC: “My clients were within their rights, they were very respectful and following and exerting their rights and stating their right to remain silent and stating their right to have legal representation and they were met with brutality. They were met with violence.”
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell has publicly criticized ICE’s actions.
He expressed on social media: “The incident raises questions that require clearer answers. Recently, ICE appears to have broken from its long-standing practice of alerting our police department ahead of planned operations, a decision that poses safety risks to officers, ICE agents, and the public alike.
“It also may preclude opportunities for local police to help deescalate tense situations like this last one.”
Mitchell emphasized that the public deserves an explanation from the Trump administration.