New Bedford man launched after ICE brokers broke automotive window, detained him

A New Bedford man with no legal report was launched 30 days after he was detained by federal immigration brokers, who dragged him out of his automotive after smashing a window with a sledgehammer.

Juan Francisco Méndez, 29, a local of Guatemala, spent weeks in Suffolk County Jail in New Hampshire after he was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His lawyer, Ondine Gálvez Sniffin, argued that federal officers did not file the suitable charging paperwork, prompting a choose to order his launch earlier this month.

“Counsel are reminded to accompany any future filings with as a lot supporting documentation as potential,” court docket data learn. “Due to the unlucky administrative company mishap that apparently occurred on this case, the court docket requests that the federal government facilitate the scheduling of any requested bond listening to on the earliest practicable date.”

Although Méndez was eventually capable of go dwelling, he did so whereas sporting an digital ankle monitor as a part of ICE’s Intensive Supervision Look Program (ISAP), which Sniffin stated means he’s “primarily nonetheless detained.”

Sniffin informed Boston.com that she filed a movement Friday to have the ankle monitor eliminated as a result of it goes in opposition to the choose’s orders. When she questioned ICE officers concerning the monitor, they have been unable to supply any proof that the choose had allowed it, she stated.

“I’m tremendous grateful to everybody who helped Juan get out of detention,” Sniffin stated. “The combat goes on as a result of now I’ve to argue in court docket for an order for ICE to take away the ankle monitor.”

ICE didn’t reply to a request for remark Sunday.

Brokers smashed Méndez’s window whereas in search of one other man, lawyer says

Méndez and his spouse, Marilu Domingo Ortiz, have been on their technique to the dentist April 14 after they have been pulled over by federal brokers. Holding their home windows rolled up, they defined that they have been ready for Sniffin and requested if the officers had an arrest warrant.

In a video captured by Ortiz, the officers repeatedly attempt to persuade them to open the door earlier than considered one of them smashes a backseat window with a sledgehammer. The brokers then reportedly dragged them each out of the automotive earlier than arresting Méndez.

The officers have been in search of one other man, recognized solely as “Antonio,” after they arrested Méndez, based on Sniffin. The person, who reportedly does have a legal report, and Méndez stay on completely different flooring of the identical constructing, she stated.

By enacting their “purposeful” and “malicious” arrest of Méndez, the brokers primarily detained him as “collateral injury,” Sniffin stated.

Sniffin informed Boston.com that she believes the publicity of the incident could have influenced ICE’s actions, describing them as “retaliatory as a result of [Méndez] exercised his First Modification rights to have that video printed.”

“It was a month-long miscarriage of justice,” she stated.

In a separate civil continuing out of New Hampshire federal court docket, Ryan Sullivan, who can be representing Méndez, filed a habeas petition to make sure that the federal government would notify the court docket no less than 72 hours earlier than shifting Méndez from the Suffolk County Jail. Sullivan informed Boston.com that he has filed habeas petitions in related instances to maintain detainees shut.

Although he was grateful for the approval of the habeas petition and Méndez’s launch, Sullivan stated he was dismayed that ICE has up to now proven “no regret or acknowledgment” concerning Méndez’s arrest.

Méndez’s spouse has asylum, making him an asylee by marriage

Méndez entered the US illegally in 2021, however started proceedings to be granted asylum after his spouse and son have been granted political asylum in February 2024, Sniffing beforehand informed Boston.com. By the tip of the yr, Méndez had filed the paperwork and been fingerprinted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers company.

Méndez is eligible for by-product asylee standing below federal immigration legislation.

“If he had been in court docket together with her, he would have concurrently obtained asylee standing from the immigration choose, however as a result of he by no means turned himself in, as a result of he was not in proceedings, he wasn’t capable of get that safety on the identical time formally,” Sniffin informed Boston.com in April, “however primarily by advantage of being married, he’s additionally an asylee.”

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell has beforehand expressed that New Bedford isn’t a sanctuary metropolis, however he condemned ICE for concentrating on a person with out a legal report.

“The absence of proof that Mr. Mendez has a legal report begs the query, ‘Is ICE concentrating on undocumented criminals, because the Trump Administration claims, or is it indiscriminately rounding up people with unresolved immigration standing?’” Mitchell stated in an announcement. “The general public deserves an sincere and fulsome clarification of the federal government’s enforcement technique.”