Democrats on Capitol Hill offered apologies and promises of accountability on Tuesday after hearing harrowing testimony from US citizens who experienced violent encounters with federal agents involved in Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. No Republicans attended the forum.
Luke and Brent Ganger, brothers of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three shot dead by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on 7 January, pleaded for help. Luke Ganger said the family’s distress was compounded by the subsequent death of Alex Pretti, also 37, shot by border patrol agents on 24 January. He described disbelief that his sister’s death had not brought change.
Three other US citizens—Marimar Martinez, Aliya Rahman, and Martin Daniel Rascon—testified about traumatic encounters. Martinez was shot five times by border patrol agent Charles Exum, who later circulated images as 'trophy' pictures. Rahman, who has autism and a brain injury, was violently pulled from her car while en route to a medical appointment. Rascon struggled to describe an incident where an agent fired on his car.
Representative Ro Khanna told Martinez: 'The entire country needs to hear your story. I am angry on your behalf.' Representative Robert Garcia called the testimony 'horrific' and pledged action. Democrats called for the arrest and prosecution of agent Exum.
