Witness Testimony: Blumenthal & Robert Garcia Receive Testimony About U.S. Citizens Assaulted, Shot at & Killed by DHS Agents

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, held a bicameral public forum to receive testimony on the violent tactics and disproportionate use of force by agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The following Americans shared their personal experiences with the lawless and deadly tactics used by DHS agents:

Marimar Martinez: Ms. Martinez is a U.S. citizen and resident of Chicago, Illinois. In October, she was shot five times by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents. After being shot by the Border Patrol Agent, Ms. Martinez was later charged with assaulting the agents who shot her. All charges were dropped by the U.S. Attorney's Office six weeks later.

"I know that what happened to me in the matter of seconds on October 4 will unfortunately be with me for a lifetime. The physical scars will always be there," Ms. Martinez said. "And perhaps even worse, the mental scars will always be there as a reminder of the time my own government attempted to execute me and when they failed at that to vilify me."

"I know that by being a survivor it is my duty to be here today to let you elected officials know what is happening on the streets of our country because silence is no longer an option. This needs to stop now!"

Ms. Martinez's written testimony is available here.

Aliya Rahman: Ms. Rahman is a U.S. citizen and resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is also a person with autism and a traumatic brain injury. In January, she was violently dragged from her car by immigration agents after telling them she had a disability; she was then detained without immediate access to medical care or accommodations.

"I now cannot lift my arms normally. I was never asked for ID, never told I was under arrest, never read my rights, and never charged with a crime," Ms. Rahman said.

"Before I blacked out on the cell floor, my cell mate pleaded over and over to get me emergency medical care. A voice outside said 'We don't want to step on ICE's toes.' When I opened my eyes at Hennepin County's emergency room, I learned I was brought there to be treated for assault."

Ms. Rahman's written testimony is available here.

Martin Daniel Rascon: Mr. Rascon, who goes by Daniel, is a U.S. citizen and resident of San Bernardino, California. Last August, Mr. Rascon was in a car with family members unlawfully stopped by ICE and CBP agents when a CBP agent fired on the car multiple times.

"I will never forget the fear and having to quickly duck my head as the shots were fired at the passenger side of the car. Any one of those bullets could have killed me or two people that I love," Mr. Rascon said.

Mr. Rascon's written testimony is available here.

Luke and Brent Ganger: Luke and Brent Ganger are brothers of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a U.S. citizen and resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in January.

"Our family is a very American blend. We vote differently, and we rarely completely agree on the finer details of what it means to be a citizen of this country. We attend various churches and some, not at all. Despite those differences, we have always treated each other with love and respect," said Luke Ganger. "We have gotten even closer during this very divided time in our country, and we hope that our family can be even a small example to others to not let political ideals divide us. To be Good, like Renee."

"Renee is not gone from us-she's in the light that finds us on hard days. She's in the resilience we didn't know we had until we needed it. She's in the laughter, the memories, the love that continues to grow," said Brent Ganger.

Luke and Brent Ganger's written testimony is available here.

Antonio Romanucci: Mr. Romanucci is an attorney representing the family of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a U.S. citizen and resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in January.

"I have handled excessive force cases across the country for decades. My colleagues and I are deeply distressed at these invasions onto fellow Americans' civil rights by our own government that have gone well beyond the initial scope of removing criminals," said Mr. Romanucci. "The occupation by ICE and CBP in our cities is way beyond their mission, leading to unnecessary provocation that causes needless harm and death."

Mr. Romanucci's written testimony is available here.

Seth Stoughton: Mr. Stoughton is a former police officer and Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he is the Faculty Director of the Excellence in Policing & Public Safety (EPPS) Program.

"The current administration's approach to immigration enforcement falls far short of professional norms This is not policing. It is not normal. And it is not professionally acceptable," said Mr. Stoughton.

Mr. Stoughton's written testimony is available here.

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1. Immigration