Democrats hold 'shadow hearing' over ICE shootings

Less than three weeks before the midterms, congressional Democrats came to Texas to hold a field hearing on the multiple shootings by ICE agents in Texas and people detained in ICE custody. Not a formal hearing because Democrats do not have that power and no Republicans participated. Fox 4's Sean Rabb watching that hearing throughout the afternoon. And Sean, lawmakers are demanding justice. Yeah, the Democrats want justice, answers, and accountability. Now, these field hearings are also called shadow hearings. They look like hearings, including with witnesses. And the witness that washed that room with emotion, the mother of a 23-year-old Texan, an American, and the first person believed killed by ICE agents a year and a half ago. He had no criminal history, and he did not deserve to die. Rachel Reyes addressing the Democrat congressional ICE field hearing about her son, Ruben Ray Martinez, killed at a traffic stop at Padre Island by ICE agents. The US citizen was 23 years old, an American, and the first person believed killed by ICE agents during President Trump's second term, March 2025. The mother told the members how her son's car was surrounded by agents, describing what she saw in body camera video from another agent on scene. Moments later, my son was killed. In the video, I saw the car turn slowly, move several feet and stop again. In those few seconds, HSI agent Jack Stevens fired three rounds through the open driver's side window without any warning. He was not wearing a body camera. The bullets pierced Ruben's heart and lungs, and his last words were, I'm sorry, sir. Ms. Reyes, I am so deeply sorry for your loss, for the trauma that you have had, and I'm so grateful for your courage and your voice in being here today. Today, an unofficial congressional forum calling out ICE for what they see as aggressive immigration enforcement violence in multiple cases. We're here today to demand justice and accountability in ICE's shooting of Wilbur. Wilbur Rafael Perez, shot by ICE last month in Austin after fleeing from a traffic stop. The DoorDash driver shot twice in the back survived. But Lorenzo Salgado Arrojo, shot by ICE agents on his way to his construction job in Houston, did not. Violence by ICE and CBP is hurting every corner of the country. But Texas has become the epicenter. Representative Greg Casar pointed to the three shootings in Texas, two fatal, and Miguel Hernandez, a Texan, run over by ICE in an unmarked vehicle, shattering his ankle and hip. And Casar claims only 5% of those in detention this fiscal year have convictions for any criminal offense. More than one in five immigration arrests this year occurred in Texas. Texas Law Council's Kristen Eder talked about some Austin arrests, calling what's happening not normal. Four men in just five days, one city here in Austin, every one of them on their way to work or already working. These are not simply workforce disruptions. These are people being torn from their families, their jobs, their communities, some after encounters involving violence, only to be locked away in detention without a meaningful opportunity to challenge their detention. So the reason these hearings are away from the Capitol, they're called shadow hearings because again, these committee members have no power, right? They can't subpoena witnesses, only invite them. They can make no law or rules, but they can raise awareness around a local or national issue, achieving their goal today, shining a spotlight on the president's immigration enforcement.