Hirono challenges DHS's characterization of Martinez
Mazie HironoU.S. senator questioning the homeland security secretary at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
Hirono said DHS had falsely characterized Martinez before an investigation and argued that the department's statements fostered abuse of power.
“The lies that you and this regime spread are creating a culture that fosters abuse of power. This is the reason we need clear guardrails on DHS.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
On October 4, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum fired five rounds at Marimar Martinez’s vehicle during a confrontation involving the agents’ SUV and two civilian vehicles in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood. A federal complaint alleged that Martinez and another driver struck and boxed in the agents’ vehicle and that Martinez then drove toward Exum. Martinez said Exum steered into her vehicle and shot her as she drove past or away. She sustained seven gunshot wounds. Federal prosecutors later dismissed the charges against Martinez with prejudice. An Illinois Accountability Commission review concluded that available video, photographs and witness evidence indicated Martinez was stationary or driving away and found reasonable cause to investigate a shooting without apparent justification. No publicly identified recording continuously captures the collision and gunfire, and no court has adjudicated whether Exum’s use of force was lawful. The dispute is whether Martinez posed an imminent threat when Exum fired.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Official release summarizing Hirono's March 3 questioning of Kristi Noem. It specifically identifies Martinez as one of the people Hirono said DHS falsely labeled before an investigation.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Hirono cited Martinez while questioning Noem about excessive force and what Hirono described as false DHS statements about people injured by federal agents.
After the quotation
She called for guardrails on DHS, including policing standards and restrictions on enforcement tactics.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Hirono rejected DHS's characterization of Martinez and linked it to a broader pattern of excessive force and misleading official statements.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
More from this case
Read the full caseParente says the shooting cannot be justified after presenting a reconstruction
“In what world could you justify that?”Read statement
Martinez says the violence should not become normal
“I want to spread awareness, because what's happening is not normal. We shouldn't stay here and normalize what's happening.”Read statement
Christopher Parente says reconstruction contradicts Exum's account
“He was behind it and shot her through the back”Read statement
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- Hirono challenges DHS's characterization of Martinez
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The Dispute Index. "Hirono challenges DHS's characterization of Martinez". First published: 2026-09-24. Last updated: 2026-09-24. https://disputeindex.com/events/2223-hirono-said-dhs-had-falsely-characterized-martinez-before