Congresswoman Jayapal reports on ICE field hearing in Texas

Congresswoman Jayapal speaking at a field hearing in Austin, Texas. Watch the full hearing here.

By Pramila Jayapal

I traveled to Austin, Texas, for a field hearing to investigate the numerous ICE shootings across the country, including the recent shooting of Wilber Garcés Pérez in Austin. 

After shooting him, instead of taking him to the hospital, ICE locked him up in a detention center and did not allow him to have surgery for 11 days. 11 days, he sat in detention with a bullet lodged in his body. 

It’s absolutely shameful, and we know that this is not an isolated incident. ICE is a lawless, rogue agency that is causing generational trauma in communities across the country, and it is clearer than ever that we must dismantle ICE and put an end to this violence. 

As Ranking Member of the Immigration Subcommittee, I have led a series of hearings to raise alarm about Trump’s immigration actions. Our work is far from over, and when we take back the House and I become Chair, there will be accountability for all the architects of Trump’s agenda of mass deportation and detention.