Democratic US Senator Patty Murray of Washington state has condemned the Trump administration after alleging that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “attack dog” mauled one of her constituents, Wilmer Toledo-Martinez, during his detention in November.
According to Murray, ICE agents lured Toledo-Martinez out of his home under false pretences, posing as a construction worker who claimed to have hit his car. Another agent, accompanied by a dog, was hiding nearby and released the dog on Toledo-Martinez shortly after he stepped outside, despite him not resisting arrest or attempting to flee.
Toledo-Martinez, who was brought to the US at age 15 and is undocumented, was detained in front of his wife and two young children, all US citizens. Murray said he suffered “horrific” injuries, including deep cuts to his side, and was denied medical care for hours before receiving stitches and antibiotics. The antibiotics were not provided immediately, and other prescribed medication was never given.
Murray called for Toledo-Martinez’s immediate release, stating: “This should shock the conscience of every one of us. I do not want to live in an America where federal agents can sic attack dogs on peaceful residents with impunity and face no consequences.” The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
