Niamh Shackleton
On Monday (April 14), ICE agents started following Marilu and Juan Mendez's vehicle.
The couple were driving around New Bedford, Massachusetts, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cars went on to surround them.
When they approached the couple, the ICE agents reportedly kept referred to Juan as Antonio, so they presumed that it was a case of mistaken identity.
They proceeded to call their lawyer, Ondine Galvez Sniffin, who told them to stay in their car and not given any information to the agents.
Advert
But that didn't stop the ICE agents from trying to get to Juan, with two officers were seen smashing through the car window.
When they eventually got into the vehicle, the ICE agents allegedly 'dragged' both Marilu and Juan out.
See the scary moment here:
According to their lawyer, Marilu is in the US as an asylum seeker but Juan is undocumented. He's in the process of changing this, however.
The couple's attorney also noted that Juan has no criminal record.
Speaking to Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra about the scary ordeal, Marilu said, as per 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 now in a detention center in Dover, New Hampshire, says their lawyer. He has a hearing scheduled for May 7.
Galvez Sniffin insists that her clients 'were within their rights'. She told 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 addressed the matter and condemned ICE's actions.
He penned 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 went on to say that the public deserved an explanation from the Trump administration.
UNILAD has approached ICE for comment.