A Coral Springs family has been thrust into a legal battle following the arrest of Dante Lopez, a Peruvian migrant and father of three, by federal immigration agents. In a surprising turn of events earlier this week, the family saw their patriarch taken away despite his compliance with legal proceedings and lack of criminal history, as reported by Local 10 News.

Witnesses described the arrest as seeming excessively forceful for a man like Lopez, who has lived in the United States illegally for the past 15 years after his visa expired, fleeing violence in Peru. “The police had a bunch of guns and shields. Why a bunch of policemen looked like (they were) going to war for just one man? He’s been the best dad I’ve ever had in the world,” Dante Lopez's young son questioned in a shocking scene relayed by Local 10 News. Since his return, Lopez bought a home, raised a family, and has been reportedly working with ICE to legalize his status since 2022.

Lopez's attorney, Yoel Lemus, criticized the abrupt arrest, pointing out Lopez's compliance and non-threatening status to the community. According to a 41 NBC News interview, Lemus said, "That should not have happened. If the person is completely abiding by the rules, checking in, and is not a threat to the community, he should be allowed to stay home and await his proceedings." The dramatic arrest incident, captured by neighbors, has drawn outrage and fear among community members. "They were going to war with a man with his family there," one neighbor recounted the harrowing experience.

Lopez's legal team is pushing for a credible fear interview, a key step in his asylum case. However, the process is expected to be slow due to the backlog in the immigration system. Meanwhile, his family is fighting for his release, backed by community testimonials supporting his right to stay in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comment.