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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

Guatemalan father pulled from car in front of young daughters during New Bedford ICE sweep
Photo via newbedfordlight.org

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

Sep 21, 2026—Agents tase a fleeing man, smash a truck window to remove another detainee, and arrest a father near an elementary school; attorneys file habeas corpus petitions in federal court in Boston, including to block Ixcuna's out-of-state transfer
Sep 20, 2026—ICE agents conduct multi-day sweep in New Bedford area, arresting at least eight people including Miguel Ixcuna-Ixcuna, who is pulled from his car in front of his young daughters
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