ICE agents smash man's window to arrest him as he cowers inside car
Share and Follow

Ruthless ICE agents have been caught on camera smashing through a man’s car window while he was cowering inside with his wife. 

A video captured the moment when federal immigration authorities broke the window of a vehicle in New Bedford, Massachusetts, during the arrest of Juan Francisco Mendez, a 29-year-old Guatemalan native, on Monday.

According to the man’s attorney, Ondine Galvez Sniffin, both Francisco Mendez and his wife have legal status in the US, with his wife being granted asylum due to fleeing persecution in their home country. Francisco Mendez is entitled to the same protection as her spouse.

Sniffin said she received a call from the couple during the ordeal, and they told her the ICE agents were looking for someone called ‘Antonio’. 

‘I said, “Tell them you have your attorney. Tell them I’m on my way,”‘ Sniffin told 12 News.

Video shows how ICE agents surrounded the terrified couple’s car as they apparently waited for Sniffin to arrive. 

In the video, one of the officers can be heard giving them the option of cooperating either ‘the easy way or the hard way’, while signaling for them to lower the windows.

After waiting a few moments, another agent then grabbed what appeared to be a large pick-axe, and used it to smash through the backseat window. 

ICE agents have been caught on camera smashing through a man's car window

ICE agents have been caught on camera smashing through a man's car window

ICE agents have been caught on camera smashing through a man’s car window while he was cowering inside with his wife – despite his attorney saying they had the wrong person

Video shows the moment federal immigration officials shattered the vehicle window in New Bedford, Massachusetts , while detaining Guatemalan native Juan Francisco Mendez (shown above), 29, on Monday

Video shows the moment federal immigration officials shattered the vehicle window in New Bedford, Massachusetts , while detaining Guatemalan native Juan Francisco Mendez (shown above), 29, on Monday

Sniffin said she thought the misunderstanding could be easily resolved, as her clients told her the officials were looking for an ‘Antonio’ – which is not his name.

‘I said, “Well, that’s great, because your name is not Antonio, so you should be fine. Show them the paperwork that you have and you should be fine,”‘ she told 12 News. 

‘But the agents didn’t pay attention to that.’

Sniffin outlined how Francisco Mendez and his wife were made lawful residents in the US. 

‘She came to the US with the belief that she would be safe here, that she would not have to endure the impunity of state actors the way she endured in her own country – and this is what she’s facing,’ the attorney said. 

Sniffin added that Francisco Mendez ‘has the same benefits that she does because they are legally married’, and neither has a criminal record. 

Francisco Mendez is now being held in New Hampshire, with a court hearing pending. 

Sniffin said attorneys are gathering evidence and letters of support to prepare for his bond request.  

‘They’re trying to live the American dream. They’re doing everything right,’ Sniffin told 12 News. 

‘What they were doing, sitting in their car, in a parked car, respectfully speaking with these agents. That’s what every American should do: respect law enforcement.

‘In response, what they got was violence, brutality, impunity.’

Their immigration lawyer, Ondine Galvez Sniffin (pictured above), said Francisco Mendez and his wife are lawfully in the US after his wife was granted asylum while fleeing persecution in her home country. Francisco Mendez has the same protection as her legal partner

Their immigration lawyer, Ondine Galvez Sniffin (pictured above), said Francisco Mendez and his wife are lawfully in the US after his wife was granted asylum while fleeing persecution in her home country. Francisco Mendez has the same protection as her legal partner

The couple have a child in school, and their lawyer said explaining to the boy why his father is in custody has been an upsetting ordeal for his wife. 

‘As she was here in my office, as we’re strategizing to request bond, her son calls her on the cellphone, “Mommy, when are you going to be home? Please don’t forget to bring daddy when you come home,”‘ Sniffin told News 12. 

The New Bedford Police Department sent officers to the scene but said they could not intervene because it was a federal issue.  

‘Neither the City nor the New Bedford Police Department were briefed or given notice from ICE regarding enforcement activity in New Bedford,’ city spokesperson Jonathan Darling told 12 News.

DailyMail.com has contacted ICE for comment on the case. 

DHS Sec. Kristi Noem

President Donald Trump

Donald Trump has ordered DHS Sec. Kristi Noem to increase the speed of deportations

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell demanded answers from the government.  

‘The incident raises questions that require clearer answers,’ he wrote on X. 

‘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 may also preclude opportunities for local police to help deescalate tense situations like this last one. 

‘Nor has there been an indication from ICE whether agents are focusing on apprehension of convicted criminals – as the Trump administration has insisted – or is instead in an indiscriminate round up of individuals with uncertain immigrant status. 

‘The public deserves an explanation from the administration.’

 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Bikes fill Neptune Beach's First Street for Fourth of July tradition

Bicycles line Neptune Beach’s First Street for Fourth of July celebration

Neptune Beach Police shut down First Street to cars to accommodate the…
Immigrants’ deportation to South Sudan briefly blocked after Supreme Court cleared the way

Brief Halt on Immigrants’ Deportation to South Sudan Lifted by Supreme Court

A federal judge temporarily stopped the deportation of eight immigrants to South…
Parents desperately seeking answers on missing campers after Texas flood

Parents desperately seeking answers on missing campers after Texas flood

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Parents are searching for…
Watch live: Multiple deaths confirmed in Texas flooding

View live: Texas floods lead to several confirmed deaths

() Heavy rains caused a catastrophic flood emergency in Texas on Friday,…
Caitlin Clark loved her Fever coach getting technical foul — and offered to pay the fine

Caitlin Clark Appreciates Her Fever Coach’s Technical Foul and Offers to Cover the Fine

Caitlin Clark supported Fever head coach Stephanie White’s decision to pick up…
New users get $1,000 no sweat first bet for FIFA Club World Cup

– Receive a hassle-free $1,000 first bet offer for FIFA Club World Cup newcomers

Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission…
How to prepare for a hurricane, as forecasters expect a busy 2025 storm season

Getting ready for a hurricane: Experts predict a hectic storm season in 2025

HOUSTON (AP) — Hurricane season can be stressful for millions of Americans…
Heartbroken family of late soccer player Diogo Jota arrives at funeral in Portugal

Diogo Jota’s grieving family attends his funeral in Portugal

Liverpool players had come together in the quaint Portuguese town of Gondomar…