Guatemalan father pulled from car in front of young daughters during New Bedford ICE sweep
Sep 21, 2026·Location: New Bedford, MA
Country of origin: Guatemala

Miguel Ixcuna-Ixcuna, a 30-year-old Guatemalan immigrant who had lived in the New Bedford, Massachusetts area for about 12 years and worked as a fruit and vegetable packer in Plymouth, was pulled from his car by ICE agents while driving home with his partner, Antonia Lucas, and their two daughters, ages 3 and 9. Agents blocked the vehicle front and back, took his identification, and removed him from the driver's seat with little explanation as his young daughters watched, frightened. He had no criminal record and is now held at the Burlington ICE Processing Center; his partner said he is worried about his daughters and family. His arrest came amid a multi-day ICE operation that detained at least eight people in the area, including fish house and seafood processing workers Israel Sam Cajuil, Arnaldo Lux, Kenshino Pierre and Oscar Abel Gutierrez; advocates said several had valid work authorization, and Mayor Jon Mitchell said most had no records beyond minor motor-vehicle violations. During the operation, agents tased a man who fled a stop, smashed a truck window to remove another person, and arrested a father near an elementary school. Attorneys have filed habeas corpus petitions in federal court in Boston, including one seeking to prevent Ixcuna's transfer out of state, while local restaurant owners reported sales fell roughly 50% following the sweep.
Timeline
Sources
- ICE arrests surge in New Bedford area; immigrants warned to stay home - The New Bedford Light
newbedfordlight.org·Sep 22, 2026·archived copy
- At least 2 dozen immigrants detained in ICE arrest wave across New Bedford, Dartmouth and Fall River
WGBH·Sep 22, 2026·archived copy
nenc.news·Sep 23, 2026
- Healey addresses recent New Bedford ICE arrests - Boston News, Weather, Sports
WHDH·Sep 23, 2026
- Reports of ICE activity in New Bedford spark outcry from mayor, governor
nbcboston.com·Sep 22, 2026
- ICE Arrests New Bedford, Fall River; Dartmouth Mall Staging
us.ok.com·Sep 22, 2026
- At least 31 detained as ICE activity surges in the New Bedford area
boston.com·Sep 24, 2026
- In wake of ICE raids, immigration advocates in New Bedford scramble to locate detainees
WBUR·Sep 24, 2026
- 2 Fall River students may have been detained in surge of ICE activity, mayor says
boston.com·Sep 25, 2026
- Officials, immigrant advocates alarmed by recent ICE activity on South Coast
nbcboston.com·Sep 25, 2026
- ICE Operation Detains 34+ Latinos in Massachusetts Coast as Tracking Blackout Leaves Families Searching
latintimes.com·Sep 25, 2026
- ICE arrests surge in New Bedford area; immigrants warned to stay home
Boston Globe·Sep 22, 2026
- Ongoing Siege in New Bedford
eyesonice.net·Sep 24, 2026
- Two Guatemalans swept up in New Bedford ICE operation - The New Bedford Light
newbedfordlight.org·May 13, 2025
- Operação do ICE em New Bedford, Massachusetts, prende oito pessoas
gnewsusa.com·Sep 25, 2026
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