Hammer Used in Arrest Sparks Outrage and Legal Challenges

A family in New Bedford,Massachusetts,is demanding answers from U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a dramatic arrest that involved agents using a hammer to break a vehicle window. The incident, which occurred on Monday, has ignited concerns about ICE’s enforcement tactics and potential overreach.

According to family lawyer Ondine Galvez-Sniffin, the agents were not initially targeting Juan Francisco Méndez, the man who was arrested. Méndez was reportedly on his way to a dental appointment when the incident unfolded. Galvez-Sniffin stated that agents claimed they were searching for someone else before detaining Méndez and his wife,Marilú Domingo Ortiz.

A video recorded by Ortiz captured the moment ICE agents used a hammer to shatter the car window and restrain her. The family believes Méndez is currently being held at a detention facility in Dover, New Hampshire.

When I arrived at the place, my client’s wife was sobbing.I was crying. I was trembling… I approached the car and saw the broken window, glass throughout the back seat, and I was shocked.
Ondine Galvez-sniffin, Family lawyer

galvez-Sniffin, a veteran immigration lawyer with 27 years of experience, expressed her shock at the “drastic and violent measures” employed by ICE agents. She recounted Méndez shouting “help me” in Spanish as he was being handcuffed.

Legal Battles and Asylum Claims Add Complexity

Ryan Sullivan, another lawyer representing Méndez, secured a ruling from a federal judge in New Hampshire requiring the government to provide 72-hour notice before any transfer of his client. This provides the legal team with crucial time to strategize their next steps.

The case is further complex by the family’s asylum claims.Ortiz and her 9-year-old son already have asylum status due to fears of persecution if they return to Guatemala. Méndez was in the process of applying for derivative asylum, a process that allows family members of asylum recipients to also obtain protection.

The arrest has left ortiz deeply shaken, fearing for her family’s safety and well-being. She expressed her disappointment, stating that they came to the United States seeking honest work and a better life, and did not expect to be treated in this manner. She is notably concerned about the emotional impact on her son, who has reportedly lost his appetite as the incident.

Local Officials Demand Transparency

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell has publicly voiced his concerns about the incident, stating on social media platform X that it “raises questions that require clear answers.” He questioned why local police were not informed in advance and whether ICE is focusing on serious criminals, as promised, or conducting indiscriminate raids on individuals with uncertain immigration status.

raises questions that require clear answers
Jon Mitchell, mayor of New Bedford

Growing Concerns Over ICE Tactics in New England

This incident comes amid growing scrutiny of ICE’s enforcement tactics in New England. Méndez, who has been in the U.S. for four years and works in the New Bedford fishing industry,has no criminal record and was actively pursuing his asylum claim.His fingerprints were taken in December,revealing no criminal history,according to Galvez-Sniffin.

Galvez-Sniffin emphasized that there was “no reason” to treat Méndez and his wife in such a manner, alleging that agents refused to review their asylum application documents. The primary concern for the family and their legal team is securing Méndez’s release.

Recent incidents have fueled concerns among New England officials and legal advocates. Last month, ICE agent Brian Sullivan arrested Wilson Martell-Lebron, 49, as he left a Boston court. The judge, Mark Summerville, held Sullivan in contempt, arguing that he deprived Martell-Lebron of his rights to due process and a fair trial. While the case was ultimately dismissed, Suffolk County District attorney Kevin Hayden described ICE’s actions as “worrying and extremely reckless.”

Another case involves Rumeysa Ozturb, a 30-year-old student from Türkiye at Tufts University, who is challenging her arrest by ICE. A recording shows her being surrounded by immigration agents on a street in a Boston suburb. Her lawyers are demanding her immediate release.

These incidents highlight a growing trend of aggressive ICE enforcement tactics that are raising serious questions about due process, civil rights, and the agency’s priorities. As the debate intensifies,the need for greater transparency and accountability from ICE becomes increasingly apparent.