Press Releases
Velázquez, Nadler Want Answers from ICE After Shooting
Washington,
February 6, 2020
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) have written to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after reports that an agent shot a man in Brooklyn, today. In the letter, the lawmakers ask to be briefed and demand that ICE in no way impede access to counsel for the immigrants involved in the incident.
The letter is online here and the full text is below. February 6, 2020 Matthew T. Albence Dear Acting Director Albence: As members of Congress, we are writing to express our serious concerns regarding an incident involving ICE agents this morning in Brooklyn, New York. At about 8:15 A.M., local reports indicated that an on-duty member of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) team shot a man while attempting to serve a deportation order for Gaspar Avendano-Hernandez. A man observing the scuffle intervened, unaware that ICE agents were attempting to arrest Mr. Avendano-Hernandez. That man, Erick Diaz, was hit by a bullet on one of his hands that later struck him in the face. [1] The agent was at a home on W. 12th Street near Quentin Road in Gravesend when the shooting occurred. According to the Fire Department, the victim was rushed to Maimonides Hospital. The details surrounding the incident are currently being investigated. However, we are very concerned by the initial use of force by the ICE agent in the first place, especially as initial reporting suggests both Mr. Avendano-Hernandez and Mr. Diaz were unarmed. It is our understanding that Mr. Diaz may have been reaching for the agent’s gun after being besieged by agents who allegedly did not identify themselves as immigration enforcement agents.[2] The conflicting narratives from ICE agents and those of the family are disturbing. This unfortunate incident further erodes trust in the agency’s mission and its responsibilities. Moreover, the nature of the incident is serious enough to warrant a review of practices and protocol employed by ICE agents in the field. Furthermore, it is our understanding that agents currently stationed at Maimonides Hospital are preventing the men involved in the incident access to legal counsel. Preventing full and fair access to counsel is unacceptable and this practice must cease immediately. Given the above, we request that your agency immediately brief us on the incident and the agent’s decision to employ his or her firearm. As part of this briefing, we request a description of the protocol your agency employs to deescalate tensions when engaging in enforcement operations. We also wish to determine whether the agents involved in this incident were serving a warrant signed by a judge. Lastly, we ask for confirmation that ICE agents in New York are in no way impeding these immigrants’ access to counsel. Sincerely, Nydia M. Velázquez Jerrold Nadler Member of Congress Member of Congress [1] Eyewitness News. ABC 7 NY. ICE agent shoots man in face during deportation fight in Gravesend, Brooklyn. Frebruary 6, 2020. https://abc7ny.com/5908029/ Gabrielle Fonrouge, Reuven Fenton and Olivia Bensimon. February 6, 2020 | 9:37am | UpdatedNew York Post. ICE agent shoots man in the face during home visit in Brooklyn. February 6, 2020. https://nypost.com/2020/02/06/ice-agent-shoots-person-in-brooklyn-during-home-visit/ [2] Id. |