Families of People Killed by ICE Testify Before Congress: ‘We Need Justice’
On September 22, 2026, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a joint hearing in Washington, D.C., where families of individuals killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents testified about the devastating impact of federal immigration enforcement operations. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) joined the proceedings as members heard emotional testimony on the killings of Ruben Ray Martinez and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas, Renée Nicole Macklin Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine. The hearing aimed to examine the circumstances surrounding these deaths and demand accountability.
The testimony centered on Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis that resulted in the shooting deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in January. Their families described the shootings as “dual assassinations” and spoke of the nationwide protests that followed. Other cases included Ruben Ray Martinez, killed on South Padre Island, Texas, in March 2025; Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, killed in Houston in July; and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, killed in Maine in July. Each story underscored the human cost of aggressive enforcement tactics.
Lawmakers and family members emphasized the need for justice and systemic reform. “And most importantly, we need justice for witnesses here today,” one representative stated, highlighting the demand for transparency and legal consequences. The hearing provided a platform for grieving relatives to share their loss directly with Congress, putting a human face on the often abstract debate over immigration policy. The emotional toll was palpable as loved ones recounted the moments their family members were taken.
This hearing marks a critical moment in the ongoing national conversation about ICE’s use of force and the oversight of immigration operations. As Truthout celebrates 25 years of publication, it continues to amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard. The families’ testimony serves as a powerful call to action, urging Congress to investigate these deaths thoroughly and implement reforms to prevent further tragedies. The pursuit of justice for these victims remains at the forefront of the fight for humane immigration enforcement.
Shimanta Das 
