Citizens Testify About Assaults by DHS Officers

Lawmakers hear emotional accounts of violence by immigration enforcement agents

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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House and Senate Democrats held a public forum where U.S. citizens testified about being assaulted, injured or shot by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, including the brothers of Renee Good, a Minneapolis woman killed by an ICE agent. The lawmakers criticized the Trump administration's deportation agenda and called for reforms at DHS, with some even suggesting abolishing ICE.

Why it matters

The testimonies highlight growing concerns about the use of force and alleged civil rights violations by federal immigration enforcement agencies under the Trump administration. The hearings could lead to increased scrutiny and potential policy changes regarding DHS and ICE operations.

The details

The hearing featured emotional testimony from the brothers of Renee Good, a Minneapolis woman killed by an ICE agent in January, as well as other citizens who recounted violent encounters with ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers. One man, Martin Daniel Rascon, described being surrounded by masked federal agents who smashed the windows of his truck and opened fire as he drove away. Democratic lawmakers, including Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Senate Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal, condemned the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics and vowed to withhold DHS funding until the agency is reformed.

  • The hearing took place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
  • Renee Good was killed by an ICE officer on January 7, 2026.

The players

Renee Good

A Minneapolis woman who was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer last month.

Luke Ganger

One of Renee Good's brothers who testified at the hearing.

Brent Ganger

Another one of Renee Good's brothers who testified at the hearing.

Robert Garcia

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member.

Richard Blumenthal

Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Ranking Member.

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What they’re saying

“What a beautiful American we have lost. Sister, daughter, mother, partner and a friend.”

— Luke Ganger, Renee Good's brother (The Hill)

“The completely surreal scenes on the streets of Minneapolis are beyond explanation. This is beyond a bad day or a rough week. ICE agents are changing the community and the lives of many others forever. I still don't know how to explain to my 4-year-old what these agents are doing.”

— Luke Ganger, Renee Good's brother (The Hill)

“Renee is not gone from us. She is in the light that finds us on bad days.”

— Brent Ganger, Renee Good's brother (The Hill)

“The whole world felt like the size of the inside of our pickup.”

— Martin Daniel Rascon, Citizen who testified (The Hill)

“We're seeing the results of powerful people with no respect for the constitution, no respect for the law, no respect for humility.”

— Robert Garcia, House Oversight Committee Ranking Member (The Hill)

What’s next

Democratic lawmakers agreed to leave out a DHS funding bill from a spending package to keep the government funded, signaling their intention to withhold funding until the agency is reformed.

The takeaway

The emotional testimonies from citizens about alleged assaults and civil rights violations by DHS and immigration enforcement agents have sparked renewed calls from Democratic lawmakers for major reforms to these agencies and their operations under the Trump administration.