Chicago Woman Shot by Federal Agent to Testify Before Congress on DHS Shutdown

Marimar Martinez, a Chicago resident who survived being shot five times by a Border Patrol agent last October, is set to testify before the Homeland Security Committee in Washington, D.C. on April 22. The hearing, called by committee Democrats, will focus on the effects of the prolonged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, now stretching over 60 days.

Alongside Martinez, committee Democrats have requested voluntary testimony from White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and former border security official Tom Homan. Republican committee chair Andrew Garbarino, however, dismissed the minority's witness requests in letters sent Wednesday, criticizing the move as politically motivated. All appearances at the hearing are voluntary, according to statements from both committee leadership and Martinez’s attorney, Christopher Parente.

Martinez’s upcoming appearance marks her first time testifying before an official congressional committee. She previously spoke at a public forum in February, organized after high-profile fatal encounters between federal immigration officers and civilians. At that event, Martinez called for federal agents to be held accountable and spoke about her own experience, including the repeated references to Border Patrol agent Charles Exum, whom she alleges shot her during a 2023 incident. Criminal charges against Martinez related to the incident were later dropped.

The controversy over Martinez’s case has reverberated in Congress, with former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem facing pointed questions during a Senate Judiciary hearing in early March. Noem said she was not familiar with the case but pledged to review it, and she was removed from her post two days after her testimony.

Rep. Delia Ramirez, an Illinois Democrat and member of the committee, voiced support for Martinez's participation, describing it as an important opportunity for lawmakers to hear directly from someone affected by federal enforcement actions during the shutdown.

Committee Democrats have also pushed for testimony from other key officials, including the newly appointed DHS chief, Markwayne Mullins, but efforts to formally subpoena certain witnesses have been blocked by the Republican majority. The hearing is expected to place renewed attention on DHS practices and accountability during the ongoing shutdown.

At present, all requested appearances for the April 22 hearing remain voluntary, and the debate over official testimony from top administration officials continues in committee.