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NEW BEDFORD — Three Guatemalan men were detained by federal authorities during an immigration raid on a home in the city’s North End Saturday as part of a statewide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation.

Agents entered the Sawyer Street apartment of Mário Nicolás Lopez Sajvin, Oswaldo Vicente Sajvin, 24, and Julio Amilcar Chiquin Tux, 27, early Saturday morning and detained the trio, Oswaldo’s half-brother told the Light. He added that though Mario had a deportation order, neither of the others did.

“[Mario] opened the main door,” said the half-brother, who asked for anonymity due to fears around his own immigration status. “But the door to the other room, [agents] knocked it down.”

He added that Oswaldo and Tux were in that room and had no standing court orders against them. He said that Tux had presented himself to authorities upon crossing the southern border some time in late 2023 or early 2024 and had an immigration court date set for 2026. He said none of them had criminal records to his knowledge. 

He said that though he was not present for the operation, he has been able to speak with his half-brother and Tux during their detention at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility. The Light has yet to confirm where Mario is being held in detention.

Video posted to Facebook Saturday showed agents with Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI insignia on their garb.

Another roommate, Oscar Vicente Sajvin, 27, was detained in an operation on Tuesday on his way to work near Market Basket, the half-brother said.

The action came near the end of a week-long “enhanced operation” that included agents from the FBI and DEA, in which ICE said they detained 370 “illegal aliens” in Massachusetts between March 18 and March 23, including 205 who “had significant criminal convictions or charges.”

“The Commonwealth is a safer place for our residents to live and work because ICE and our federal law enforcement partners arrested hundreds of alien offenders and removed them from the streets of Massachusetts,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde in a press release Monday. “Throughout this enhanced enforcement operation, we targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods in and around Boston.”

In the press release, ICE listed among those detained a Guatemalan person released by the New Bedford District Court after the accused was charged with rape and convicted of enticing a minor under the age of 16. The press release said the court had not honored an ICE detainer request. ICE did not immediately respond when asked who the detained man in question was.

The raid came after witnesses said federal agents in military fatigues entered a home using a battering ram on Viall Street Friday to detain José Antonio Garcia Garcia, 39, when three teenagers — including two minors — were present at the home. One of the minors said agents pointed a gun at his head during the operation.

The teenagers said agents did not present a warrant during the raid.

Another resident of the apartment, Miguel Ordoñez Socop, 35, was detained on his way to work just before the raid.

At least 8 arrested in New Bedford

As of Monday, The Light confirmed the detention of at least eight men arrested in New Bedford by federal authorities over the course of the operation through conversation with families and activists. They say it has amplified the terror many immigrants in the area already fear.

“They’ve been going to people’s houses,” said Jennifer Velarde, an immigration attorney based in New Bedford. “There are a lot of videos of them walking down the street. This is causing fear in the community.”

Velarde said she was aware of one Puerto Rican woman in New Bedford who was detained for about 40 minutes while agents verified her status.

“Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens,” she said. “It’s not just the undocumented people, but the documented too. They’re barely leaving their houses.”

She added people need to know their rights when dealing with Immigration and that they should not open the door for anyone they do not know or expect, as Mario did on Sawyer Street.

“The problem is once you allow someone inside the apartment, you are granting them access to the entire apartment,” Velarde said. “By the individual opening the door, they were granted access,” thus effectively giving up their rights, she said.

Marlene Cerritos, co-director of Mujeres Victoriosas, a local group that has been supporting the families of the detained, said the tactics of authorities in recent days indicate a systematic campaign to stigmatize and dehumanize immigrants.

“It starts with dehumanization and othering,” Cerritos said. “Their goal is not to arrest but to drive the public into thinking the government is making them safer.”  

She added that the operation appeared to fall in line with what she called President Donald Trump’s authoritarian maneuvers since taking office in January.

“This is bigger than just immigration,” she said. “It’s an abuse of power from the federal government. They are testing what they can get away with.” 

“The public is letting it happen but it will only escalate from here.” 

Kevin G. Andrade is a freelance journalist and contributor to The Light.

25 replies on “Weekend arrests part of statewide ICE operation”

  2. They are doing what the majority voted for. If previous administration didnt let illegal immigration get out of control we would’nt have this issue. Make our Country safe again.

    2. Completely agree, keep up the great job ICE, DEA, FBI, don’t stop until they’re all removed from MA and the other sanctuary states, the liberal socialist Democrats on Beacon Hill, and Maura Healy should be arrested and prosecuted for wasting over $1 Billion dollars of state & federal tax payer funds on hotels, motels, healthcare, food, clothing, transportation, and allowing illegal immigrants to enroll their children in public schools across the state at the expense of the tax payers, it’s really wrong. When the next 10 million illegal immigrants are invited in by the next Democrat President, use the Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security funds to support them, I already pay too much in taxes to fund the needs of the growing welfare class residents in MA, I shouldn’t have to pay for the illegal immigrants too. Fortunately, Medicaid, and CHIPS will be cut by Republicans in Congress, it’s time for people to pay for their medical needs themselves, the tax payers won’t be paying everyone else’s expenses, least of all, illegal immigrants, and their children.

      1. Social Security and Medicare are not welfare. Employees pay into the system for their entire careers with the promise of receiving back THEIR OWN EARNED MONEY, collected for decades, when they retire. It is a FORCED RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN. You can disagree with it, but at least know what it is.

        1. I know what it is, you clearly don’t. First of all, you don’t pay a separate tax for Medicaid, and with Medicare & Social Security, you’re funding the system for social security benefits being paid today to the current recipients, you’re not paying for yourself.
          Additionally, Social Security is not a “Forced Retirement Savings Plan”, it was created as a safety net for low income retirees who didn’t earn enough income to pay their living expenses, and save enough to maintain their standard of living after retirement. If you’re counting on Social Security as your retirement savings plan, you should begin planning what size cardboard box you want to live in, and select a state with a warm climate with mild winters and little rain, you’re going to need it.

        2. ABSOLUTELY 💯 Correct.
          It is not CHARITY.
          WE WORKED HARD FOR EVERY BIT OF IT. ( ASK YOUR MOTHER)…

      2. Yes totally Agree, when people that were born, raise and work for years here can,t get Help ?

    3. The Majority did NOT vote for this ” Anonymous” The illegal immigrants who work pay INTO the system ( Medicare Social security) and get NOTHING out of it . Do some research and NOT fox news!

    1. Just curious. Do you carry your birth certificate around with you??????? Maybe you better start.

  5. 100% and use the Billions of $ to help our citizens and reduce the staggering Nations Debt before it changes life for every American.

  6. I came as a LEGAL immigrant. Fixed my status obeyed the law and became a citizen still obeying the law. ICE is doing it’s job and if you are scared means that you havecissues. I am not scared of Zice ( in terms of legality) because I have no issues. The Bidet administration had posed everyone at risk. It is now time to clean up the mess that we are enduring for about 25 years.

  7. The above comment is true! ” If u have no issues u won’t be arrested”! These illegals made their own problems by not doing things legally in the first place”!!!

  8. NB light will be defunded soon enough. So liberal. If you are hear illegally get out and come back the right way . Why should anyone skip the line . Do it right and be a productive part of the country or get out! Go ice go !!! Take them all ! You won’t be missed bye bye !

  9. America has Consulates or Embassies in almost every country in the world. Please advise these illegals to go back to where they came from and APPLY for VISAS before coming to America so simple.

  10. I agree. The reason most of these people have come illegally is because they have something to hide. If you’re a law abiding person you have no reason to be afraid of coming here the right way. Apply for citizenship. Learn our ways. Take the civil rights test or go back where you came from. Simple!!

  12. Don’t rely on Social Security and you won’t have to worry about funds running out in ten years. Social Security is a safety net, not a retirement plan.

Comments are closed.