Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal Demands Records on Federal Immigration Enforcement Shootings

WASHINGTON–Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and fellow Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin are demanding personnel and disciplinary records of federal immigration officers involved in shootings, giving the Trump administration until November 10 to provide information about the incidents and the officers’ backgrounds.

The lawmakers have requested detailed records concerning officers’ employment histories, previous complaints, criminal and civil court proceedings, involvement in other shootings, and any disciplinary actions or additional training imposed following incidents involving the use of firearms.

The request was sent to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director David Venturella and Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott.

According to Jayapal’s office, the congressional inquiry follows growing concerns about the conduct of federal immigration officers before and after shootings, including allegations that some agents misrepresented the circumstances surrounding the incidents or boasted about using deadly force.

Jayapal and Raskin cited figures indicating that Department of Homeland Security officers have shot at least 25 people since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, resulting in six deaths, including those of three U.S. citizens.

The figures were provided by the lawmakers and have not been independently confirmed through an official government tally.

The two Democrats argued that the substantial federal funding allocated to immigration enforcement makes transparency about officers’ conduct and disciplinary histories particularly important.

“It owes the taxpayers and this Congress transparency and accountability for what it is doing with our money,” the lawmakers wrote.

Their letter specifically asks whether officers involved in shootings have been placed on administrative leave and whether authorities imposed additional training requirements or disciplinary measures following each incident.

The inquiry also seeks information about previous allegations of misconduct and whether any of the officers had been involved in other shootings during their law enforcement careers.

The congressional request does not establish wrongdoing by any individual officer, and no disciplinary findings were announced as part of the lawmakers’ demands.

Among the incidents cited by Jayapal’s office was the shooting of Marimar Martinez, a Chicago woman who was struck five times by gunfire from a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

An ABC News visual investigation published in February found that body-camera and surveillance footage appeared to contradict portions of the Department of Homeland Security’s initial explanation of the shooting.

Federal officials had initially maintained that Border Patrol agents fired in self-defense after their vehicle was rammed and surrounded.

However, ABC News reported that the available footage did not show a driver ramming the agents’ vehicle.

The report also noted that a federal judge dismissed criminal charges against Martinez after the Justice Department requested that the case be dropped.

In a statement reported by ABC News at the time, Customs and Border Protection confirmed that the officer involved had been placed on administrative leave.

The agency said incidents involving significant uses of force undergo investigations and reviews, including examination by a board comprising senior CBP officials and representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department.

That statement addressed the Martinez shooting and was not a response to the latest congressional inquiry.

No public response from the Department of Homeland Security to the new records request was identified in the information available for the report.

The lawmakers’ demand follows an October 15 Democratic congressional field hearing in Austin, Texas, examining shootings involving federal immigration enforcement officers.

Jayapal participated in the hearing alongside Democratic Rep. Greg Casar, House Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie Thompson and other members of Congress.

Witnesses included legal advocates and the mother of a man who was killed in a shooting involving immigration enforcement personnel.

The hearing examined concerns about the use of force, oversight procedures and accountability within federal immigration enforcement agencies.

Jayapal, who represents Washington state’s 7th Congressional District, was born in India and immigrated to the United States at age 16 to attend college.

She became the first South Asian American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and serves as the senior Democrat on the House immigration oversight subcommittee.

Raskin, who represents Maryland, serves as the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

The lawmakers have given federal immigration authorities until November 10 to respond to their request for records, as congressional Democrats continue scrutinizing the use of deadly force during immigration enforcement operations. (Source: IANS)