A prominent US senator has launched a scathing condemnation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a constituent suffered severe injuries from an agency dog during a detention operation.
'An Attack Dog Unleashed'
Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington state detailed what she called a "horrific" incident involving Wilmer Toledo-Martinez in November. According to Murray's statement, ICE agents employed deception to lure Toledo-Martinez from his home. One agent posed as a construction worker, falsely claiming to have hit the man's car and needing him to step outside. Another officer, accompanied by a dog, was concealed nearby.
"Shortly after he stepped outside, another agent, accompanied by a dog, was hiding nearby and released the dog on Wilmer," Senator Murray stated. She emphasised that Toledo-Martinez, who was brought to the United States at age 15 and is undocumented, was not resisting arrest or attempting to flee when the attack occurred.
Denied Medical Care and Family Trauma
The aftermath of the dog attack left Toledo-Martinez with significant injuries and without prompt medical attention. "Following the attack, Wilmer was left shaking and dizzy, and at one point his vision went black, yet he was denied medical care for hours," Murray reported.
He was eventually hospitalised, receiving stitches for deep lacerations shown in photos provided by the senator's office. Although prescribed antibiotics and other medication, the antibiotics were not provided immediately, and the additional medication was never given, according to the allegations.
The detention unfolded in front of Toledo-Martinez's wife and two young children, all of whom are US citizens. Senator Murray has called for his immediate release from the Northwest ICE processing centre where he is being held.
A Call for Conscience and Accountability
"This should shock the conscience of every one of us," Senator Murray declared. "I do not want to live in an America where federal agents can sic attack dogs on peaceful residents with impunity and face no consequences." The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, had not responded to requests for comment at the time of the report.
This incident emerges amidst other reported clashes involving ICE enforcement. Police in Vancouver, Washington, are investigating an event where an ICE agent allegedly ran over a man's foot during an arrest. Separately, on Friday, Arizona Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva stated she was sprayed with a chemical agent during a protest against an immigration raid at a Tucson restaurant.
In a joint statement regarding the Tucson operation, the city's Democratic mayor and vice-mayor said the enforcement action had "rapidly escalated into violence against the public."
