Immigrant is forcibly removed from his vehicle and detained; he is married to an American lawyer.
Prior to his capture, immigration agents broke the window of Edgar Elias’s vehicle to extract him.
By Miguel EscuderoSeptember 19, 2025, 9:17 PM EDT
Edgar Hernán Elias Escobar , an immigrant originally from El Salvador , was detained by ICE agents in the city of Malden , Massachusetts , on September 17. The incident occurred when the 33-year-old man was heading to work in the morning.
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According to security video and witness statements, officers surrounded his vehicle, smashed the SUV window, and forcibly removed him. Escobar suffered minor injuries and was later taken to the Plymouth County Correctional Center , according to his wife, attorney Leslie Perlera González .
An alarming case of excessive force: Edgar Elias
According to what Perlera González revealed to Newsweek , he was on a video call with Edgar when the ICE operation began in the middle of a public street, and was also recorded by surveillance cameras in the area.
In the footage, shared by WCVB Boston , officers, some of them hooded, can be seen surrounding Escobar’s SUV. When he didn’t open the doors, the officers proceeded to break the side window and struggle to get him out of the vehicle.
Escobar was restrained on the ground and handcuffed in front of bystanders. According to his wife , the procedure included the use of a Taser, which was discharged several times but malfunctioned and did not harm Edgar. Perlera also stated that the procedure was ” violent and unnecessary ,” as he did not pose a risk. After the incident, he required medical attention for injuries sustained in the struggle.
What did ICE say about the case?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a statement stating that Escobar refused to cooperate during the operation. According to the agency, the immigrant “did not respond to commands to roll down his window,” and therefore “minimum force necessary” was used to carry out the arrest.
ICE also explained that Escobar had an active deportation order , which prompted his arrest. The agency emphasized that its officers acted under established protocols and denied that this was an abnormal procedure. However, it did not offer details about why Escobar ‘s case was considered a priority at this time.
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Escobar’s life in the United States and the future of his case
Edgar Hernán Elias Escobar arrived in the United States several years ago from El Salvador . He lived in Malden with his wife, Leslie Perlera González , a U.S. citizen and attorney, with whom he was in the process of adjusting his immigration status.
According to Perlera , they have been married for over a year, which prompted the attorney to file an I-130 petition for alien relative on his behalf to establish their legal relationship.
Now his immigration situation faces a complex scenario: with an active deportation order, he could be removed from the country in the coming weeks. However, his marriage to a U.S. citizen allows him to maintain the legal path to applying for regularization, although the process could be lengthy. Friends and family have started a fundraiser for Edgar, which has already raised more than $15,000.
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