Overview

• Juan Francisco Méndez, a Guatemalan immigrant with no criminal record, was detained by ICE agents in New Bedford while waiting for his lawyer with his wife.
• ICE agents used a hammer to break the car window and forcibly removed Méndez and his wife, despite their compliance and efforts to assert their legal rights.
• Agents reportedly referred to Méndez by the name of another individual, suggesting a case of mistaken identity during the operation.
• Local officials, including New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, criticized ICE for uncoordinated actions and the use of excessive force, demanding greater transparency and accountability.
• Méndez is currently detained in New Hampshire with a hearing scheduled for May 7, as broader concerns over ICE enforcement practices under the Trump administration continue to grow.