CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Neighbors in a Coral Springs community were recording video as immigration agents stood outside a home Monday morning.
Inside the home, Dante Lopez was consoling his son, clearly in distress, asking why it had to be real.
Lopez spoke to Local 10 News’ Christian De La Rosa inside his home, where he is praying that they don’t come back to take him away.
“It’s like a nightmare what is happening,” he said. “The only thing I want is my kids my kids to be safe.”
After arriving with his parents in the 90s, seeking asylum from guerrilla warfare in his native Peru, his Visa expired, and years later, he was deported.
“And then one of them pulled a gun on me,” he said.
Once again targeted by guerrilla members in Peru, fear fueled his journey back to the U.S.
He crossed the border illegally to get back in.
“I was horrified,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do.”
After getting married and having three children, Lopez has been reporting to ICE since 2022, waiting for an interview with renewed hopes of being granted asylum, this time with evidence of credible threats.
“I just did whatever they told me to do,” he said.
Lopez uses a monitoring device to check in with immigration authorities every day.
His last in-person appointment with ICE was Jan. 22, two days after President Trump’s inauguration.
“I never committed a crime,” Lopez said.
His attorney says his follow up appointment is scheduled for June, but Monday morning, agents went to his home demanding he come out.
His neighbors of 15 years were watching in horror.
“He wouldn’t hurt a fly,” said one neighbor. “He’s not the criminal. He’s hard working, he pays taxes.”
Immigration Attorney Yoel Lemus is not representing Lopez but stresses his case is not alone.
“They’re just waiting and the government doesn’t have enough people,” said Lemus. “Right now there is a hiring freeze so not only is there a backlog on immigration proceedings.
“Where do you see this going?” asked De La Rosa.
“Unfortunately, I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” answered Lemus.