Indian-American Congressman Seeks FBI Probe After ICE Agent Allegedly Points Gun at U.S. Citizen

Washington — Indian-American Congressman Suhas Subramanyam and five other U.S. lawmakers are calling for an FBI investigation and a Justice Department civil rights review after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent allegedly pointed a loaded gun at a U.S. citizen during an encounter in Northern Virginia.

The lawmakers are seeking an investigation into ICE personnel who surrounded Carolina Molina’s vehicle in Falls Church on Aug. 10. They have asked the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to respond by Aug. 31.

Molina, a licensed professional counselor, was leaving a shopping center in Bailey’s Crossroads, where she conducts mental health assessments for immigration clients, when unmarked vehicles blocked her car from the front and rear, according to a Migrant Insider report.

Masked federal agents then surrounded the vehicle, and one allegedly pointed a firearm at her head.

“Yeah, you record this. You almost ran us over,” the agent told Molina, according to video she recorded.

“I didn’t almost run you over,” Molina responded.

“You almost ran us over! Stop playing!” the agent said. “I will arrest you! Keep it up!”

“I’m a legal citizen!” Molina told him.

“Keep it up, I don’t care!” the agent replied.

In their letter, the lawmakers said neither of the available videos appeared to show Molina attempting to run over or otherwise endanger the ICE personnel.

“The claim of a deadly threat is obviously belied by both the video footage and their decision to leave her without detaining or charging her after she told them that she had dashcam footage of the encounter,” they said.

The Department of Homeland Security has disputed that account, describing Molina as an “anti-ICE agitator” who “attempted to harm officers by weaponising her vehicle against them.”

The lawmakers called that characterization “particularly concerning,” saying similar language has previously been used to justify deadly force in cases where video evidence later challenged official accounts.

Subramanyam, whose Virginia congressional district includes Molina’s community, said lawmakers would continue seeking accountability even if federal agencies do not act.

“We’re going to do everything possible,” he said. “We will hold every single ICE officer accountable. Even if that accountability means public pressure and public shaming, that’s what needs to happen if there’s no accountability in ICE.”

Subramanyam said the agent involved “should come before Congress to explain” his actions and suggested a subpoena could follow if Democrats regain control of the House.

The letter was also signed by Virginia Reps. Don Beyer and James Walkinshaw, House Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia, Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie Thompson and Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin.

The lawmakers requested the names and titles of the agents involved, their vehicle-stop training records, any disciplinary histories and all complete, unedited body-camera, cellphone and vehicle footage from the encounter.

They also cited ICE directives requiring agents to use force only when no reasonably effective and safe alternative exists and to activate body-worn cameras at the beginning of enforcement activity. Molina’s recording appeared to show at least three personnel wearing body cameras.

Molina said the encounter left her fearing for her life.

Asked what advice she would give others after the incident, she said, “Don’t trust anything, and just move carefully.” (Source: IANS)