Renee Macklin Good's brothers, others call for ICE reforms at public forum
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U.S. citizens who have been affected by federal immigration enforcement actions spoke at a public forum organized by Democratic lawmakers in Washington, D.C., Tuesday
Luke Ganger, whose sister Renee Macklin Good was killed by a federal immigration agent last month, spoke about the impact of the loss on his family and the challenge of explaining the killing to his 4-year-old daughter.
“She knows that her aunt died and that somebody caused it to happen,” he said. “She told me that there are no bad people and that everyone makes mistakes. She has (Renee’s) spirit.”
He added that his family initially found consolation in the hope that his sister’s death would bring about positive change.
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“It has not,” he said. “The completely surreal scenes taking place on the streets of Minneapolis are beyond explanation. This is not just a bad day or a rough week or isolated incidents. These encounters with federal agents are changing the community and changing many lives, including ours, forever.”
“I still don't know how to explain to my 4-year-old what these agents are doing when we pass by,” he added.
Brent Ganger, another of Macklin Good’s brothers, shared a message of hope, saying his sister makes him think of dandelions and sunlight.
“Dandelions don't ask permission to grow. They push through cracks in the sidewalk, through hard soil, through places where you don't expect beauty. And suddenly, there they are, bright, alive, unapologetically hopeful,” he said.
“And sunlight,” he added, “warm, steady, life-giving — because when she walked in a room, things felt lighter, even on cloudy days.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Robert Garcia, both Democrats, hosted the forum, which also included testimony from citizens who said they were left with injuries and trauma after run-ins with immigration enforcement officials.
One was Aliya Rahman of Minneapolis, who was dragged out of her car by federal immigration enforcement agents three weeks ago. Rahman said she is autistic and has a traumatic brain injury.
“An agent pulled a large combat knife in front of my face, which I thought was for cutting me, and later learned was used to cut off my seat belt,” she said. “Shooting pain went through my head, neck and wrists when I hit the ground, face first, and people leaned on my back.”
Rahman said she was repeatedly denied medical care when she was detained.
“My vision had become blurry, my heart rate went through the roof, and the pain in my neck and head became unbearable,” she said.
Marimar Martinez, who was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in October in Chicago, and Martin Daniel Rascon, who said his car was shot at by federal agents in San Bernardino, Calif., also spoke at the forum.
Several of the Democratic lawmakers present called for ICE to be defunded or abolished.
