Video: Blumenthal Delivers Opening Statement at Forum on Violent Use of Force by DHS Agents

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), delivered an opening statement at a bicameral public forum to receive testimony on the violent tactics and disproportionate use of force by agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

"This hearing is extraordinary and unprecedented, but so is the inhumanity and brutality that we've seen from a government agency. With us today are brave Americans who have come forward to speak truth to power," Blumenthal said. "That phrase is overused, but truly it applies today. With us in spirit are also Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti-in spirit, they should be here in person. But they were murdered. They were murdered by their own government."

The forum featured testimony from Brent and Luke Ganger, brothers of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, and Antonio Romanucci, the attorney representing their family; Marimar Martinez, Aliya Rahman, and Martin Daniel Rascon, all of whom were violently assaulted by DHS agents; and Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

"The violence unleashed by the Trump Administration against our fellow citizens, can touch any American at any time, any one of you who are listening by livestream or C-SPAN or who are hearing and seeing this hearing," Blumenthal said. "Whether you're going to a church clothing drive to make a donation, on your way to a doctor's appointment, or even heading home from dropping your six-year-old son off at school, real stories we will hear today. These stories, and far too many others, demand that every one of us stand up against the injustices and demand accountability."

The event is the second public forum Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, have hosted as part of their ongoing inquiry into the lawless and abusive tactics used by federal immigration agents. In December, Blumenthal and Garcia received testimony from five U.S. citizens who were assaulted, detained, and denied their constitutional rights by agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Video of Blumenthal's opening statement is available here and the full text is copied below.

Thank you. Thank you so much, Representative Garcia. Working with you has been a great experience in partnership, and I am really gratified that we're going to continue our work, continue our investigation, continue our efforts to hold DHS accountable.

This hearing is extraordinary and unprecedented, but so is the inhumanity and brutality that we've seen from a government agency. With us today are brave Americans who have come forward to speak truth to power. That phrase is overused, but truly it applies today. With us in spirit are also Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti-in spirit, they should be here in person. But they were murdered. They were murdered by their own government. They were killed in cold blood, and I can only imagine how painful it must be for you to see that image of your sister, which speaks to your courage, your guts, your grit and determination to be here. And you have won the admiration and gratitude of all of the colleagues here and many others and Americans throughout the country.

The witnesses here bear the scars of government lawlessness and DHS brutality-mental scars as well as physical scars. They're here as the face and voice of Alex and Renee, and of thousands of others who span the country and who have experienced this inhumanity. And let's be very clear, these stories are not just about Minneapolis. People are here from all over the country. These stories span the country. The nation is Minneapolis. We are all Minneapolis. And these stories are a call to action.

I was in this room just a few hours ago at a hearing of the Armed Services Committee. I sat on this dais as we heard from witnesses about our national nuclear security in the face of threats from enemies and adversaries abroad who have nuclear weapons. We are here about a matter of national security that is equally important to the one that we heard about this morning.

The violence unleashed by the Trump Administration against our fellow citizens, can touch any American at any time, any one of you who are listening by livestream or C-SPAN or who are hearing and seeing this hearing. Whether you're going to a church clothing drive to make a donation, on your way to a doctor's appointment, or even heading home from dropping your six-year-old son off at school, real stories we will hear today. These stories, and far too many others, demand that every one of us stand up against the injustices and demand accountability. The directives underlying this lawlessness come from the top. Those pictures of the leaders that Representative Garcia showed you are ultimately the culprits here. They bear responsibility. They are the ones who issued the quotas for arrests and detention that are driving the brutality. They are the ones who have issued a policy directive kept secret until a whistleblower came to me, showing that the acting director of ICE is authorizing agents to break down your door, ransack your home, terrify your children, detain and arrest you, as has happened countless times across the country. The top ranks of DHS are more than complicit. They are the driving force behind this brutality, and they should be held accountable. They've not only directed those actions, but also the lies and misinformation that have been presented to courts in violation of the duties lawyers have to present only the truth to courts, and they have engaged in character assassination against today's witnesses, as well as countless others, including Alex and Renee.

We are at a defining moment. It's a moral moment. We are determined to continue to investigate and uncover wrongdoing, but we will also seek action for accountability and justice. My feeling is that we should demand a complete overhaul, a rebuilding of DHS and the agencies at fault here.

These reforms should include body cameras and identification on every officer, masks off at all times, rigorous "Use of Force" training and policies, independent investigations into acts of violence, and ongoing monitoring of these agents. A police force that has these kinds of systematic failings would be supervised by a monitor. And we've seen it in Connecticut, as my colleagues have seen it in their states around the country. And most important for me, rights of citizens to seek redress, rights of anyone to have recourse in the courts to make sure that agents violating their rights are held accountable. If you go to your local police chief and ask, "what are the norms?" Every one of the demands that I've listed here is going to be recounted to you, including a right of action on the part of people to seek accountability. It can be done with four words. Four words. In the current United States Code, 1983, all we need to do is add when we say, "Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of the United States", "of the United States or any Other State or Territory." That basic responsibility ought to be the right of every citizen, because we know that rights without remedies are empty promises. If a local cop can be sued, so should an ICE agent or a CPB official, and so should Greg Bovino and Kristi Noem and Todd Lyon and Steve Miller and yes, Donald Trump.

There is a real need for a full accounting of what these agencies have done. Some day we should have a truth and justice commission to investigate the systemic failings. But for right now, I can promise that I will not support another dime for the Department of Homeland Security unless there is this fundamental, far-reaching reform and restraint, in effect, a rebuilding of the agency.

So, Renee and Alex are not with us, but the silencing of their voices should strengthen our resolve to force change, to stand up for what's right, to show our neighbors, our communities, and the world that we won't let totalitarian tyranny prevail and fear crumble this great nation.

One day, I think we will look back and hold ourselves accountable. Whether we stood up and took stands. Luke Ganger and Brent Ganger are showing that courage and strength today, and they're here to share some words about their sister. Luke and Brent, on behalf of all of us, I want to express again our gratitude, and we offer our condolences. Words are inadequate but just know from our hearts we are with you in spirit for this devastating loss, and we thank you for being here today. And I recognize you now for your remarks.

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1. Immigration