Renee McLean Goode’s brothers call for ICE reforms

US citizens affected by federal immigration enforcement actions spoke at a public forum organized by Democratic lawmakers in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

Luke Junger, whose sister Renee McLean Goode was killed by a federal immigration agent last month, spoke about the impact of the loss on his family and the challenge of explaining the murder to his 4-year-old daughter.

“She knows her aunt died and someone caused this to happen,” he said. “She told me that there are no bad people and that everyone makes mistakes. She has[Renee’s]spirit.”

He added that his family initially found solace in the hope that his sister’s death would lead to positive change.

“It didn’t happen,” he said. “The absolutely surreal scenes occurring on the streets of Minneapolis are inexplicable. This is not just a bad day, a rough week or isolated incidents. These encounters with federal agents change society and change the lives of many, including our own, forever.”

He added: “I still don’t know how to explain to my 4-year-old what these agents do when we pass by.”

Brent Junger, one of McLean Goode’s brothers, shared a message of hope, saying his sister makes him think of dandelions and sunshine.

“The dandelion doesn’t ask for permission to grow,” he said. “It pushes through the cracks in the sidewalk, through the hard soil, through places where you wouldn’t expect beauty. And suddenly, there it is, bright, alive, extraordinarily hopeful.”

“And the sunlight is warm, steady, life-giving – because when she walked into the room, things seemed lighter, even on cloudy days,” he added.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Robert Garcia, both Democrats, hosted the forum that also included testimony from citizens who said they suffered injuries and trauma after encounters with immigration enforcement officials.

One of them was Alia Rahman from Minneapolis She was pulled from her car By federal immigration enforcement agents three weeks ago. Rahman said she is autistic and suffers from a brain injury.

“One agent pulled a large combat knife in front of my face, which I thought was intended for my wound, and later learned was used to cut my seat belt,” she said. “I experienced severe pain in my head, neck and wrists when I hit the ground face-first and people leaned over my back.”

Rahman said she was repeatedly denied medical care when she was arrested.

She said: “My vision became blurry, my heartbeat accelerated to the highest levels, and the pain in my neck and head became unbearable.”

Also speaking at the forum were Marimar Martinez, who was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in October in Chicago, and Martin Daniel Rascon, who said his car was shot at by federal agents in San Bernardino, California.

Several Democratic lawmakers in attendance called for defunding or eliminating ICE.