Lawrence Benito says the Martinez shooting shows ICE does not keep communities safe
Executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
“Whether it be the apartment raids in South Shore, the shooting of Marimar Martinez in Brighton Park, or the murder of Silverio Villegas González, it’s been proven that ICE does NOT keep us safe - they are designed to intimidate communities of color and deport as many people as possible.”
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
The congressional press release compiles remarks from elected officials and immigration advocates calling for accountability and reform.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Benito joined elected officials and advocates calling for accountability for DHS conduct.
After the quotation
He urged local leaders to stand with immigrants and enforce protections for their communities.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
He uses the shooting as a principal example in a broader condemnation of ICE’s conduct.
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Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full caseIllinois Legislative Latino Caucus
“The findings of the Illinois Accountability Commission are clear: a documented pattern of ICE, Border Patrol and federal agents making discriminatory arrests based on race and ethnicity, acting recklessly, endangering the lives of community members and retaliating against rapid responders and community members – not only in the case of Villegas González, but also in the shooting of Marimar Martinez.”Read statement
Illinois Accountability Commission
“Agent Charles Exum shot an unarmed civilian without apparent justification.”Read statement
“They picked the wrong victim to mess with.”Read statement