WASHINGTON — One of many brothers of Renee Good, the 37-year-old mom of three who was shot and killed by an immigration agent in Minneapolis, instructed congressional Democrats on Tuesday that he wanted their assist.
Luke Ganger mentioned their household had taken some comfort within the thought that his sister’s dying would possibly spark a change.
“It has not,” he mentioned.
That’s the reason Ganger and individuals who had been violently detained by immigration brokers gathered to share their experiences with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to ask the federal government to rein in an company they described as lawless.
Tuesday’s discussion board — not an official listening to as a result of Republicans didn’t comply with it — was led by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Lengthy Seaside), the highest Democrat on the Home Oversight Committee, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), the highest Democrat on the Senate Everlasting Subcommittee on Investigations. It was held not within the Capitol, however a close-by Senate workplace constructing.
Garcia and Blumenthal convened the discussion board to assemble testimony “on the violent ways and disproportionate use of pressure by brokers of the Division of Homeland Safety.”
The entire incidents referenced within the discussion board have been captured on video.
Democrats heard from three U.S. residents who’re residents of San Bernardino, Chicago and Minneapolis. Additionally current have been Good’s two brothers and an lawyer representing their household.
Good’s killing on Jan. 7 has led to a wave of nationwide protests, additional infected after brokers fatally shot ICU nurse Alex Pretti, 37, two weeks later. Protesters have referred to as on federal brokers to cease utilizing violence in pursuit of the Trump administration’s mass deportation effort.
From left, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Luke Ganger and Brent Ganger arrive for a public discussion board on violent use of pressure by Division of Homeland Safety personnel.
(Win McNamee / Getty Photos)
“Let’s be very clear: these tales will not be nearly Minneapolis,” Blumenthal mentioned. “These tales span the nation.”
Blumenthal referred to as for a “full overhaul, a rebuilding” of the Division of Homeland Safety and its sub-agencies. Such an overhaul, he mentioned, would require body-worn cameras and that officers put on identification and endure rigorous use-of-force coaching. As well as, acts of violence would require full investigations below the supervision of an unbiased monitor. With out these reforms, he mentioned he wouldn’t help extra funding for DHS.
Ganger mentioned the “surreal scenes” going down in Minneapolis and past will not be remoted and are altering many lives.
“The deep misery our household feels due to Renee’s loss in such a violent and pointless method is sophisticated by emotions of disbelief, misery and desperation for change,” he mentioned.
Ganger mentioned his household is “a really American mix” that votes in a different way and infrequently agrees absolutely on the small print of what it means to be a citizen of the U.S. Regardless of these variations, he mentioned, they’ve all the time handled one another with love and respect.
“We’ve gotten even nearer throughout this very divided time in our nation,” he mentioned. “We hope that our household might be even a small instance to others to not let political beliefs divide us.”
The panel heard from Martin Daniel Rascon, 23, of San Bernardino, and three others who described harrowing experiences with immigration brokers. Rascon was in a truck with two relations final August once they have been stopped by greater than a dozen federal brokers who pointed rifles at them and shot on the automotive a number of occasions.
Francisco Longoria, the person driving the truck, was later arrested and charged by federal authorities, who alleged he had assaulted immigration officers along with his truck throughout the incident. Longoria’s attorneys mentioned he drove off as a result of he feared for his security. The costs have been dropped a month later.
Describing the second the unidentified males shattered the truck’s home windows and punched Longoria within the face, Rascon mentioned: “In that second, the entire world felt prefer it was the dimensions of the within of our pickup, and we have been sitting in hurt’s method with nothing to do however report it.”
Rascon, who cried whereas giving his testimony, mentioned federal brokers returned to his house at 4 a.m. two weeks later, broke the locks and pointed a gun at his then-pregnant fiancee. He mentioned the incidents left him feeling unsafe all over the place, even at house.
Marimar Martinez, 30, of Chicago, was shot 5 occasions by a U.S. Customs and Border Safety agent after which charged with assaulting the agent who shot her. These fees have been additionally later dropped.
Martinez testified that she was on her solution to drop off a bag of clothes for donation to her native church when she seen an SUV with federal immigration brokers. She started following the automobile for the following 20 or so minutes whereas shouting out “la migra!” to warn immigrant neighbors of their presence.
Ultimately, the automobile with federal brokers side-swiped Martinez’s automotive. She mentioned an agent acquired out and pointed his gun at her, then she seemed down and seen blood gushing from her legs and arms. She pulled right into a mechanic store and referred to as 911. After her launch from a hospital, Martinez noticed on the information that she was being referred to as a home terrorist.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) instructed Martinez he was indignant on her behalf. “Inform me, what would you like this authorities to do to apologize to you?” he mentioned.
“Only a sorry, you’re not a home terrorist,” she replied. “That’s it. …For them to confess that they have been fallacious [about] every part that they mentioned about me. I simply need accountability.”
Aliya Rahman, of Minneapolis, was dragged from her automotive on the way in which to a health care provider’s appointment and detained by ICE brokers after telling them she has a incapacity. Rahman has autism and is recovering from a traumatic mind harm.
DHS mentioned Rahman was arrested as a result of she ignored a number of instructions. Rahman mentioned it takes time for her to grasp auditory instructions.
Rahman mentioned brokers yelled threats and conflicting directions that she couldn’t course of whereas anticipating pedestrians. As she hit the bottom face-first, she mentioned, she felt taking pictures ache as brokers leaned on her again. She considered George Floyd, who was killed 4 blocks away.
Rahman mentioned she was by no means instructed she was below arrest or charged with a criminal offense. The brokers taking her to the federal Whipple Constructing referred to detainees as “our bodies.” She mentioned she acquired no medical screening, telephone name or entry to a lawyer, and was denied a communication navigator when her speech started to slur.
Ultimately, she grew to become unable to talk.
“The final sounds I bear in mind earlier than I blacked out on the cell flooring have been my cellmate banging on the door, pleading for a medic and a voice exterior saying, ‘We don’t wish to step on ICE’s toes,’ ” she mentioned.
Rahman mentioned she later wakened at a hospital, the place medical doctors instructed her she had suffered a concussion.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Lengthy Seaside) speaks throughout a public discussion board on violent use of pressure by Division of Homeland Safety personnel.
(Win McNamee / Getty Photos)
Garcia referred to as the discussion board a transfer towards accountability as a result of Congress has the fitting to step in when constitutional rights are violated. He mentioned Democrats have tracked a minimum of 186 incidents of problematic makes use of of pressure by federal immigration brokers.
Antonio Romanucci, the lawyer representing Good’s household and who additionally represented the household of George Floyd, mentioned that whereas he has dealt with extreme pressure instances for many years, “that is an unprecedented and deeply unsettling time.” Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.
“The occupation by ICE and CBP in our cities is method past their mission, resulting in pointless provocation that causes unnecessary hurt and dying,” he mentioned. “These operations in a number of states have routinely and persistently included violations of the Structure.”
The present path to carry federal officers accountable is slender, he mentioned. Congress might cross laws so as to add language making it simpler for folks to file civil lawsuits in instances corresponding to Good’s.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) questioned why the listening to was made up solely of Democrats. He mentioned Republicans can’t be let off the hook.
“Beneath regular circumstances — no matter who’s within the majority — when tragedies like this occur congressional committees convene to conduct our job to offer that oversight,” he mentioned. “However our Republican colleagues refused to.”
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