Federal Law Enforcement's Use of Force Under Scrutiny
Jan, 11 2026
In September, an ICE agent shot and killed Silverio Gonzalez Villegas, who was reportedly unarmed and had no criminal convictions beyond traffic offenses. The DHS claimed that Villegas attempted to run over the agents, a narrative contradicted by a New York Times analysis. In another incident in October, Border Patrol agent Charles Exum shot Marimar Martinez five times. Although Martinez survived, DHS accused her and another individual of attempting to ambush the agents. Martinez's defense attorney contended that the agent struck her vehicle and that she did not draw her licensed concealed handgun during the encounter. A federal judge later dismissed the charges against her and her co-defendant.
Pritzker remarked on the pattern of violence, stating, "ICE and CBP are breaking their own protocols, and not only roughing people up, but literally shooting at people and killing them, when, in some cases, they’re U.S. citizens, and they’re doing nothing wrong." He called for accountability, suggesting that President Trump is not adhering to the law and that officials such as Kristi Noem and Tricia McLaughlin should face consequences for their roles in these incidents.