<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A woman who was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent while driving in Chicago last year has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding the incident.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Marimar Martinez, 30, filed the lawsuit on Monday, claiming that the federal government is liable for the agent’s actions under the Federal Tort Claims Act. This law permits private citizens to sue the United States, as federal agents cannot be sued directly.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Border Patrol agent Charles Exum shot Martinez multiple times on October 4, 2025, while she was in her vehicle. The lawsuit asserts that Martinez was not driving toward Exum when he opened fire, contradicting the agent's claims. A visual reconstruction of the scene indicates that Exum was standing beside the vehicle at the time of the shooting.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Following the shooting, Martinez was charged with attempting to ram federal officers with her vehicle, but these charges were later dropped by federal prosecutors.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One year later, Martinez is pursuing accountability from the Trump administration. Her legal team argues that Exum should face criminal charges for his actions.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Chicago-based attorney Michael Gallagher stated at a press conference, “The reality is the shoot wasn’t justified. She almost lost her life as a result. She’s been dealing with the physical and mental injuries ever since then.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The federal lawsuit includes allegations of negligence, battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution, false arrest, and false imprisonment. Martinez is seeking compensatory damages, which will be determined at trial.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Right now we’re just focused on moving forward with the civil case and just heal emotionally and physically,” Martinez said. “I’m just glad to see another year, be with my family.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Martinez decided to sue the administration following a series of immigration-related shootings that resulted in the deaths of U.S. citizens, including Renee Good in Minneapolis.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Look at what happened to Renee and all these victims,” she said. “So I won’t stop. I have a voice, and I do matter, and I don’t want it to keep happening. I don’t. I just don’t. So I want to spread awareness because what’s happening is not normal. We shouldn’t stay here and normalize what’s happening.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL), who represents parts of Chicago in Illinois’s 4th Congressional District, expressed his support for Martinez’s civil case.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Trump and Miller’s DHS almost killed Marimar Martinez, and then lied about what happened and falsely smeared her as a terrorist,” Garcia posted on X. “Marimar deserves justice. I will continue to stand with her to demand accountability for all the atrocities committed by Border Patrol and ICE agents in Chicago.”</p>