In a Senate hearing in Washington, D.C., family members of individuals killed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents expressed their grief and demanded accountability. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s son shared that his mother now visits his father's grave instead of waiting for him to return home from work. The hearing featured testimonies from family members of Salgado Araujo, Ruben Ray Martinez, Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, all of whom were killed by federal agents since the beginning of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies.
Lorenzo Salgado questioned why the names of the ICE agents involved in his father's death remain anonymous while he and his brother publicly share their identities. The forum, led by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), was the fifth event aimed at addressing what the lawmakers described as “lawless and abusive tactics” by immigration agents. They criticized the Department of Homeland Security for failing to investigate the deaths adequately.
Blumenthal highlighted a recent incident in Austin, Texas, where Wilber Rafael Garces Perez was shot and injured by ICE agents. Garcia stated that over 1,000 instances of abuse by immigration agents have been verified by House Democrats since the administration took office.
Family members recounted their loved ones' tragic deaths, with Rachel Reyes sharing her son Martinez's story and expressing frustration over the lack of access to investigative reports. Donna Ganger, mother of Good, emphasized her desire for accountability despite her Republican beliefs. Stella Carlson, who witnessed Pretti's death, criticized government officials for mischaracterizing him.
The forum also served as a platform for Democrats to address immigration enforcement issues ahead of the upcoming elections. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) engaged the audience, asking those affected by ICE to stand, while Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) prompted Reyes to share her regrets about voting for Trump. Family members expressed their determination to seek justice and accountability from ICE, with calls for independent investigations and prosecution of responsible agents.