NEW BOSTON, N.H. (WHDH) - A New Bedford man was reunited with his family after being arrested by ICE agents more than a month ago.
Juan Francisco Mendez was being held at a correctional facility in Dover, New Hampshire after being taken into custody; cell phone video shows the federal agents surrounding a car in New Bedford, one of them smashing a window at one point.
Mendez was welcomed home by his family with balloons in their driveway for the emotional reunion.
“It’s a blessing from God that I have gotten so much support, I thank everyone with all my heart,” said Mendez.
“I feel very happy to see my husband. Thank God everything went well this time,” said Mendez’s wife Marilu Domingo Ortiz.
The family’s attorney argues that ICE arrested the wrong person and that Mendez has no criminal record and was in the process of getting legal status in the U.S.
In a statement after his arrest, ICE stood by the actions of its officers, saying Mendez refused to comply with their instructions and that the officers used the minimum amount of force needed to resolve the situation.
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)