“The Human Toll of Sanctuary Policies: Stories from Victims and Families”
Hearing•House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight•Apr 16, 2026 · 2:00 PM
Summary
House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing on Apr 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM in Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2141. 4 witnesses appeared.
Record
The meeting has its video, its transcript, witnesses and documents on the record.
Video
The proceedings, as the committee streamed them.
Transcript
The transcript runs to 1,683 lines and 91,866 characters, as the Government Publishing Office printed it.
1[House Hearing, 119 Congress]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34 THE HUMAN TOLL OF SANCTUARY POLICIES:5 STORIES FROM VICTIMS AND FAMILIES6=======================================================================78 HEARING910 BEFORE THE1112 SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT1314 OF THE1516 COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY1718 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES1920 ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2122 SECOND SESSION2324 __________2526 THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 20262728 __________2930 Serial No. 119-633132 __________3334 Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary3536[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]3738 Available via: http://judiciary.house.gov3940 __________4142 U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE4363-454 WASHINGTON : 202644=======================================================================4546 COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY4748 JIM JORDAN, Ohio, Chair4950DARRELL ISSA, California JAMIE RASKIN, Maryland, Ranking51ANDY BIGGS, Arizona Member52TOM McCLINTOCK, California JERROLD NADLER, New York53THOMAS P. TIFFANY, Wisconsin ZOE LOFGREN, California54THOMAS MASSIE, Kentucky STEVE COHEN, Tennessee55CHIP ROY, Texas HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, Jr.,56SCOTT FITZGERALD, Wisconsin Georgia57BEN CLINE, Virginia TED LIEU, California58LANCE GOODEN, Texas PRAMILA JAYAPAL, Washington59JEFFERSON VAN DREW, New Jersey J. LUIS CORREA, California60TROY E. NEHLS, Texas MARY GAY SCANLON, Pennsylvania61BARRY MOORE, Alabama JOE NEGUSE, Colorado62HARRIET M. HAGEMAN, Wyoming LUCY McBATH, Georgia63LAUREL M. LEE, Florida DEBORAH K. ROSS, North Carolina64WESLEY HUNT, Texas BECCA BALINT, Vermont65RUSSELL FRY, South Carolina JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA, Illinois66KEVIN KILEY, California SYDNEY KAMLAGER-DOVE, California67GLENN GROTHMAN, Wisconsin JARED MOSKOWITZ, Florida68BRAD KNOTT, North Carolina DANIEL S. GOLDMAN, New York69MARK HARRIS, North Carolina JASMINE CROCKETT, Texas70ROBERT F. ONDER, Jr., Missouri Vacancy71DEREK SCHMIDT, Kansas72BRANDON GILL, Texas73MICHAEL BAUMGARTNER, Washington7475 ------7677 SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT7879 JEFFERSON VAN DREW, New Jersey, Chair8081BARRY MOORE, Alabama JASMINE CROCKETT, Texas, Ranking82ROBERT F. ONDER, Jr., Missouri Member83DEREK SCHMIDT, Kansas JARED MOSKOWITZ, Florida84BRANDON GILL, Texas HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, Jr.,85 Georgia8687 CHRISTOPHER HIXON, Majority Staff Director88 ARTHUR EWENCZYK, Minority Staff Director8990 C O N T E N T S9192 ----------9394 Thursday, April 16, 202695 OPENING STATEMENTS9697 Page9899The Honorable Jefferson Van Drew, Chair of the Subcommittee on100 Oversight from the State of New Jersey......................... 1101The Honorable Jasmine Crockett, Ranking Member of the102 Subcommittee on Oversight from the State of Texas.............. 3103The Honorable Jim Jordan, Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary104 from the State of Ohio......................................... 6105The Honorable Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on106 the Judiciary from the State of Maryland....................... 6107108 WITNESSES109110Patricia Fox, Mother of Carissa Aspnes111 Oral Testimony................................................. 10112 Prepared Testimony............................................. 12113Jennifer Heiling, Mother of Brady Heiling114 Oral Testimony................................................. 17115 Prepared Testimony............................................. 19116Antonio Romanucci, Founding Partner, Romanucci & Blandin117 Oral Testimony................................................. 24118 Prepared Testimony............................................. 26119Laura Wilkerson, Mother of Joshua Wilkerson120 Oral Testimony................................................. 30121 Prepared Testimony............................................. 33122123 LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC. SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING124125All materials submitted for the record by the Committee on the126 Judiciary are listed below..................................... 44127128Materials submitted by the Honorable Derek Schmidt, a Member of129 the Subcommittee on Oversight from the State of Kansas, for the130 record131 A press release entitled, ``ICE Asks Governor Pritzker and132 Chicago Sanctuary Politicians to Not Release Criminal133 Illegal Alien Accused of Killing 18-Year-Old Loyola134 College Student,'' Mar. 22, 2026, U.S. Department of135 Homeland Security136 A press release entitled, ``Mayor Frey's Sanctuary Policies137 Release Criminal Illegal Aliens From Jails Back onto138 Minneapolis Streets to Terrorize More Innocent139 Americans,'' Jan. 14, 2026, U.S. Department of Homeland140 Security141 An article entitled, ``Illinois father says Pritzker shows142 `indifference' to his daughter being killed by illegal143 immigrant,'' Jan. 15, 2026, Fox News144 Testimony from Zoey Heiling, sister of Brady Heiling, Apr.145 16, 2026146 Testimony from Korri Heiling, sister of Brady Heiling, Apr.147 16, 2026148 Testimony from John and Debra Hosek, grandparents of Brady149 Heiling, Apr. 16, 2026150 Testimony from Agnes Gibboney, mother of Ronald da Silva,151 Apr. 16, 2026152 Testimony from Joe Abraham, father of Katie Abraham, Apr. 16,153 2026154Materials submitted by the Honorable Jasmine Crockett, Ranking155 Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight from the State of156 Texas, for the record157 An article entitled, ``TribBlog: Houston No Sanctuary, Annise158 Parker, Says,'' Mar. 29, 2010, The Texas Tribune159 An article entitled, ``Is Houston a sanctuary for illegal160 immigrants?'' Dec. 23, 2007, Houston Chronicle161Materials submitted by the Honorable Brandon Gill, a Member of162 the Subcommittee on Oversight from the State of Texas, for the163 record164 An article entitled, ``ICE agent struck by Renee Good's165 vehicle suffered internal bleeding to torso, DHS says,''166 Jan. 14, 2026, Fox News167 A press release rntitled, ``DHS Reaches More than 4,000168 Arrests of Illegal Aliens Including Murderers, Sex169 Offenders, Gang Members, and Terrorists in Minnesota170 Since Operation Metro Surge Began,'' Feb. 4, 2026, U.S.171 Department of Homeland Security172 A press release entitled, ``UPDATE: DHS Deploys Special173 Operations After Multiple Violent Attacks on Federal Law174 Enforcement by Domestic Terrorists in Chicago,'' Oct. 4,175 2025, U.S. Department of Homeland Security176177THE HUMAN TOLL OF SANCTUARY POLICIES: STORIES FROM VICTIMS AND FAMILIES178179 ----------180181 Thursday, April 16, 2026182183 House of Representatives184185 Subcommittee on Oversight186187 Committee on the Judiciary188189 Washington, DC190191 The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2 p.m., in Room1922141, Rayburn House Office Building, the Hon. Jefferson Van193Drew [Chair of the Subcommittee] presiding.194 Members present: Representatives Van Drew, Jordan, Onder,195Schmidt, Gill, Crockett, Raskin, and Johnson.196 Mr. Van Drew. Thank you all for being here today. This is a197regular meeting of the Subcommittee on Oversight. The women198sitting in front of us today, you shouldn't have to be here.199You shouldn't have to have a hearing on this topic. What you200should have, and we can't do, is to have your children back.201The systems of governing across this country have failed you,202so you are here and, damn it, we are going to listen to you.203 Folks have said on the other side sometimes a lot of things204in defense of sanctuary city policies. I say tell that to Laura205Wilkerson, whose 18-year-old son Joshua was murdered by an206illegal alien from Belize. He was beaten with a wooden rod. His207hands and feet were bound. His body was set on fire and I'm208sorry I even have to say this, and he was left in a field.209Joshua gave his killer a ride home from school that day. That210was Joshua's crime. That is the kind of kid that he was.211 Tell it to Patricia Fox, whose daughter, Carissa, was212riding on the back of a motorcycle when an illegal alien with213no license and no insurance cut across three lanes of traffic214and hit her, and then he fled the scene and left her for dead.215 Tell that to Jen Heiling, whose son, Brady, 19 years old, a216football and track athlete, who would turn down college217scholarships just to stay close to his family and his218girlfriend, was killed, was murdered when a drunk illegal alien219drove the wrong way on an interstate at a blood alcohol level220just about three times the legal limit.221 Go ahead, tell them sanctuary policies make communities222safer. Look them in the eye and say that. Tell them that223blindly letting in millions of unknown people into this country224makes us safer. It doesn't. We know it. It doesn't. I know all225of you know it; yet here we are. This is a direct, documented,226undeniable line between the policy choices that have directly227led to the deaths of innocent Americans.228 In New York, failure to honor ICE detainers resulted in the229release of 6,947 criminal illegal aliens, criminal illegal230aliens, almost 7,000, with crimes ranging from 29 homicides,2312,500 assaults, 200 burglaries, 300 robberies, 400 dangerous232drug offenses, 300 weapons offenses, and 200 sexual predatory233offenses. In Illinois, they had the man who shot and killed234Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old freshman, walk in a park with235her friends in custody, but they let him go. We know because236this Committee obtained the Border Patrol documents, when Jose237Medina crossed into this country, he made no asylum claim, and238agents determined he was unlikely to run away, and look what he239did. The Biden Administration released him anyway, into our240communities, onto our streets, and into the park where Sheridan241Gorman was walking with her friends.242 These same sanctuary policies protected the man who killed243Katie Abraham, an Ohio University student, who was sitting at a244car, stopped at a red light, when a drunk illegal alien who had245already been deported once before slammed into her at 78 miles246an hour and left the scene. He was driving on a fake identity247with fake documents under a fake name. He had gone to three248different bars that night.249 Sanctuary policies protected the man who killed Richard250Williams he is a senior, too an 83-year-old veteran, an Air251Force veteran, who was standing on a subway platform, not252bothering anybody, who served his country, when Mr. Hernandez,253a Honduran national who had been deported from this country254four times with 15 prior criminal charges--15, how many times255does it take for us to learn? He came up behind him, and he256shoved them on the tracks.257 They call these policies sanctuary to make them sound nice.258Well, I will let you know what I call it. I call it negligence.259I call it a dereliction of our duty to protect the American260people that we serve. When your policies repeatedly release261dangerous criminals who go on to kill innocent Americans over262and over again, and you do it knowingly, and I don't mean to be263harsh but the only thing, the only word I can think of is264murder.265 An ICE detainer doesn't ask for much: Hold a person who has266committed a crime for 48 hours so Federal agents can take them267into custody. Two days. That's all they asked. These Governors268and these mayors and these officials were all sitting in our269comfortable offices and our ivory towers, continuing to ignore270the duty and ignore the safety of their constituents. It271continues to lead to one tragedy after another.272 We have had too many different types of hearings on this,273and yet it continues. That is why I applaud all of you when we274talked in the back, that you have the guts, that you have the275strength, that you have the love in your heart for those that276you lost, and the love in your heart to try to help other277Americans, and to try to change the system.278 You asked me back there do the good guys win? Not all the279time; but damn it, it is worth the effort and you have got to280try to win. This is worth the effort that you all are making. I281mean it. I thank you.282 That's why I called this hearing. Not for shrewd arguments,283not for talking points, not for technicalities, and not for all284the legal words and the legalese. It is just a hearing for285people. I wanted to hear from real people. I didn't want to286hear from, and we put plenty of attorneys up there, too; I'm287not being critical, Mr. Romanucci, but I wanted to hear from288the American people who have been hurt and want to make a289difference. I called this hearing. I called it for Joshua. I290called this hearing for Carissa. I called this hearing for291Brady. I called this hearing for Hallie, Sheridan and Katie,292and Richard and Stephanie. Do you want me to read all the293names? I don't think you do because it hurts.294 These are real people and they are real tragedies, real295pain and real hurt. You know what? Condolences don't do it.296Feeling sorry doesn't do it. The words don't do it. Speeches297like the speech I am giving now, it can't suffice. It can't do298it. I don't want anybody to sit here. I have heard people say,299and I say this as a father and now the grandfather of two300little ones, don't say you know how you feel because we don't301know how you feel. We will never, pray to God, know how you302feel. Nobody can unless you go through it. Nobody knows how you303feel.304 I am going to ask all of us today that sits up here on this305dais, and more will be coming in, to look you all in the eyes,306to look at you directly, and to listen to you. I want all of us307to hear for ourselves about the failure of sanctuary policies.308I thank you.309 Now I'm going to recognize the Ranking Member, Ms.310Crockett, for an opening statement.311 Ms. Crockett. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Let me echo the312condolences that he said not to give. Regardless, as someone313who I don't think will ever get comfortable with trying to314explain the unexplainable, specifically to parents, there is a315due order that we all believe will exist, especially when you316bring your beautiful child into this world. The one thing that317no parent ever anticipates is for that order to be disrupted.318 Prior to coming to Congress, I was frustrated. I did a lot319of the same work that Mr. Romanucci does. I had to face so many320parents that lost their children and shouldn't have, whether it321was doing the civil rights work or whether it was sometimes322being the criminal defense attorney that would have to walk323into court and represent people and make sure that their due324process rights were preserved because they had been accused of325killing somebody else.326 I will say that I agree with the Chair when he says that327speeches cannot suffice. They never have; they never will. I328must say that our actions have to speak louder than any words,329and one of the reasons that I got into politics is because I330felt like politicians are very good at lip service. Frankly,331this hearing is a hearing that we have had over and over and332over, where we have talked about sanctuary cities. It333frustrates me, if I am being perfectly honest, because it334doesn't lead to solutions. It feels like political335gamesmanship, and the Chair is my friend, but I always keep it336as real as I can.337 I want to say thank you to each and every one of you for338being here today. Let me be clear about something.339 Anyone who commits a crime, especially a violent crime,340should be fully held accountable. No matter their citizenship341status, race, sex, how much money they do or don't have,342whether they went to school or not, or even if they are a343government official, no one should be above the law.344 I have listened to similar witnesses give their accounts345and their stories. Specifically, as it relates to the witnesses346that sit before us today, I have read your written testimony347and I agree with some of the specific things that have been348said in your written testimony, for example, Ms. Fox, that349policies have consequences and that public policy should not350require a threshold of victims before it is taken seriously.351The only people in disagreement with this statement are the352Republicans on this Committee. They have held multiple hearings353on this topic but still haven't invited the families of anyone354killed by ICE or who have died while in ICE's custody. More355people died in ICE's custody last year than any time in the35621st century, and Republicans still haven't invited any of357their families to testify before this Committee. ICE and CBP358have either shot or shot at least 24 people, including American359citizens. Some have died. Others have been severely injured. A360college student even had to have their eye removed after being361shot in the face. Republicans have not invited any of their362families to testify before this Committee. As far as I know,363Republicans have not even contacted the families of those364killed or harmed.365 What our witnesses went through is tragic and devastating,366and their loved ones, you deserve justice. I have to be clear367and say that their lives are not worth more, nor less, than,368say, the life of Renee Good or the life of Alex Pretti or the369life of Ruben Martinez, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen who was shot370and killed by ICE in March 2025, or the life of Marimar371Martinez, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen who was shot five times by372Federal agents. Now, Ms. Martinez miraculously survived; but,373to Ms. Fox's point, it, quote, ``should not require a threshold374of victims before it is taken seriously.''375 Just six months after Federal agents murdered Ruben376Martinez, they tried to murder Marimar Martinez but failed.377Just 2\1/2\ months later, Federal agents killed Renee Good.378Just 17 days after that, Federal agents killed Alex Pretti.379Each time, Republicans on this Committee have blamed the380victims. If they had only been exercising their First Amendment381rights, they would be alive today, or if Ms. Martinez hadn't382panicked after Federal agents ran up behind her, put an AR-15383to her head, and said, quote, ``do something, bitch,'' if she384had just stayed calm, maybe she wouldn't have been shot five385times. This is what failed policy looks like, and these386families deserve to have a voice when they are discussing387immigration enforcement policies in the United States.388 Republicans would rather parade families experiencing389tragedy around the halls of Congress for political purposes390than to actually fix our broken immigration system. In fact, I391don't know how many people remember, but, prior to the392Presidential election, the House and the Senate had worked on393legislation, and there was a candidate that did not want us to394take up the legislation because they wanted to campaign on a395broken system. The bad part about campaigning on broken systems396is that they continue to allow for harm to be permeated397throughout the entirety of our country, and that is exactly398what happened and that is what is happening right now.399 In fact, Republicans are ignoring all crime across the400United States. They refuse to enforce congressional subpoenas401to advance the investigation into the Epstein pedophile ring.402They have been completely silent on the fact that Donald Trump403issued unconditional pardons for January 6th insurrectionists,404many of whom were convicted on separate charges of rape,405stalking, child abuse, domestic violence, drug trafficking, and406possession of child porn. For months, they have ignored Trump's407and Hegseth's war crimes when they ordered the killings of408noncombatant civilians, many of whom were just fishermen; and409now they're ignoring the President's illegal war and genocidal410threats against the Iranian people.411 Republicans have completely abandoned the American people.412The ATF case referrals are down. The DEA case referrals are413down. The number of weapons seized by DHS dropped by almost 80414percent. Drug arrests are down. In just the first six months of415his administration, Trump's DOJ ended 23,000 criminal cases,416including investigations into terrorism, tax evasion, drug417trafficking, and other violent crimes. The Republicans on this418Committee haven't held a single hearing, started any419investigations, or done anything about it. Drug traffickers,420men who prey on children, murderers, and potential terrorists421are all roaming the streets of America because they would422rather use these families' tragedy for political gain.423 I am going to be real honest about this. Your children424should be here today. Believe me when I tell you that. While I425sit in this imperfect government, and we all know that426government is run by imperfect people because we are all human,427there are policies that can be changed. It would be my hope and428prayer that we start to bring about policy changes that can429prevent loss of life all around.430 Right now, as federally elected officials, the one thing431that we could do to start to save at least some folk is to432focus on the fact that we have what seems to be government-433sanctioned violence that is leading to people dying. We are the434ones that oversee these government officials, and I would435encourage the Chair to hold a hearing so that we can do that436part because we are not elected to run any city. We are elected437on the Federal level, and we are the ones that are supposed to438have oversight over DHS and others.439 With that, I will yield.440 Mr. Van Drew. I thank the Ranking Member. When I make a441mistake, I make a mistake. It is important to me to start each442meeting, and I forgot to do it, with the pledge, so we're going443to stand up and do the pledge and then a moment of silence,444just thinking about all that is transpiring. Please stand.445 All. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States446of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one447Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for448all.449 Mr. Van Drew. Remain silent for a moment of silence.450 (Moment of silence observed.)451 Mr. Van Drew. I am now going to recognize the Chair of the452Committee of the whole, Mr. Jordan.453 Mr. Jordan. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for that moment454of silence. Thank you for doing this hearing. I thank our455witnesses, particularly Ms. Heiling, Ms. Fox, and Ms.456Wilkinson, for being here and for your loss.457 I just said this on the House floor, but it is worth saying458again. Think about what has happened in our country. First, for459four years, the Democrats allowed 10 million illegal migrants460to enter our Nation. Second, they set up sanctuary461jurisdictions all over the country to make it more difficult to462remove illegal migrants who commit crime. Third, they don't463want to fund the people who actually remove those illegal464migrants who commit crime. They don't want to fund ICE. That is465their plan, and they are executing it. Of course, what is the466end result? Tragedies like all your families have had to467endure. That is what happens. That is what happens when you468adopt the plan that they are putting in action. That is exactly469what happens.470 This is not political, as the Ranking Member just said.471This is the facts. You have lived it in the worst way possible,472the worst way, the most personal to your entire family. What473has happened is tragic, and you know that, but you're willing474to come here and testify because you want that plan to be475stopped. Let in 10 million, create sanctuary jurisdictions476where illegal migrants commit crimes, almost a third of the477country is in that kind of jurisdiction: 18 cities, 11 States,478three counties, and the District of Columbia, that kind of479jurisdiction. Then, oh, the guys who go out and stop those bad480guys, illegal migrants who did crime, they defunded them. Wow.481That is the Democrats' plan? That is scary.482 This is not political. This is for you to come tell your483story, so, hopefully, we can stop what they've started to the484tune of 10 million. Oh, by the way, it just got worse, it just485got worse because on the House floor they said anyone who came486here under temporary protected status is now going to be487permanent. Three-hundred thousand Haitians who entered the488country during the Biden Administration, we are going to make489that permanent. They're making it even worse.490 This is not a political hearing. This is to get the facts491and the truth about the tragedy you have had to endure because492of Democrat policies, plain and simple. I want to thank the493Chair for his work, for this hearing, and for your courage and494your willingness to come here today and tell the story.495 With that, I yield back.496 Mr. Van Drew. I thank the Chair. I recognize the Ranking497Member from the State of Maryland.498 Mr. Raskin. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I want to thank499the family members who came to Washington today to tell us the500stories of how they lost their children. Please forgive my501black and bloody eye. I am nursing a medical injury, but I did502not want to miss this important hearing. If the light gets too503intense, forgive me if I put the sunglasses back on.504 There is no pain, Mr. Chair, no anguish, no trauma, and no505catastrophe worse for any parent than having to bury your506child. My heart and my sympathy go to all of you who lost a507child, as I did, and to your children who lost a brother or a508sister. Nothing hurts more than losing a child, a family509member, in the prime of their life or having them suffer a510catastrophic injury or assault because someone else decided511that their life didn't matter. You are all here today, bravely,512to tell us how much the lives of your children did matter and513do matter and to ensure that their legacies here on Earth,514while senselessly cut short or dramatically altered, still live515on in your work and in your families.516 In telling your loved ones' stories, you are advancing the517righteous goal of ensuring that no other person suffers the518pain of what you have gone through. You will not find a single519member in this body who disagrees with your goal or your520mission. This is a House, this is a Congress, filled on both521sides with mothers and fathers, uncles and aunts, grandparents,522brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters. We all want to523protect our families and to keep them safe from harm.524 The terrible crimes that your families have suffered must525be universally condemned. Victims of violent crimes, all526violent crimes, victims of vehicular homicides, victims of527reckless driving, all of them must be listened to, must be528heard, and must be respected. Victims must receive justice for529the dreadful crimes that took their loved ones away.530Perpetrators must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of our531laws. Those who attack police officers or those who attack532civilians must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of our laws.533No one should be granted a blanket pardon without proof of534remorse, rehabilitation, or restitution to their victims. Once535perpetrators have served their sentence here, if they are in536our country illegally, they should be removed from our country.537 This is not a partisan problem, and nobody should try to538turn it into a partisan problem. Tragically, the stories that539we hear today can be told of any President. President Bush,540President Obama, President Trump, and President Biden, each of541their administrations released undocumented immigrants who went542on to commit violent crimes. We could fill the room with people543speaking of their lost family members at the hands of people544who came into the country illegally under Democratic and545Republican Administrations alike.546 It is not a partisan problem. Everyone knows our547immigration system has been broken for decades. Administration548after administration, we have lacked the political will to do549the hard work of putting together a bipartisan solution. We550need an immigration system that makes it a lot harder to come551here illegally or impossible to come here illegally and a lot552easier to come here legally to participate in the American553dream. We need an immigration system that gives dreamers and554others who have built a productive and law-abiding life in our555country a pathway to legal status.556 Alas, this administration is focused on mass arrests, mass557detention, and mass deportation that are dividing our country558in unprecedented ways. To achieve this goal, the DHS is not559focused on going after the worst of the worst. The category of560violent criminals quickly exhausted, with Stephen Miller561demanding 3,000 draconian immigration arrests every single day,562Federal agents simply started indiscriminately rounding up563immigrants and American citizens who looked like immigrants,564according to the agents. ICE has arrested kindergartners,565daycare teachers, and parents dropping off their kids at566school. They dragged U.S. citizen grandparents out of their567homes in their underwear in subzero temperatures and ripped568children from their beds in the middle of the night, using them569as bait to arrest their parents.570 When ICE does manage to arrest people with criminal records571or charges, those are often people who are currently in572custody. In many cases, ICE is effectively giving criminals get573out of jail free cards by deporting them in the middle of their574criminal sentences or, even worse, deporting them before their575trials can even begin, depriving their victims of justice. All576so the agency can simply jack up the President's deportation577numbers. This makes it vital to hear from families like yours578who have suffered from terrible crimes to hear about the579importance of accountability for those crimes.580 Your testimony is an important and powerful reminder that581the fundamental responsibility of our Federal law enforcement582and justice system is to keep the people safe and to ensure583that no one is ever above the law and no one is ever beneath584it. The government must stand on the side of victims of crimes,585not their perpetrators. I tried to remind Attorney General586Bondi of that principle when she appeared here before our587Committee. That is why we have been so focused on insisting588that we hear from the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine589Maxwell and their elite pedophile network, the women survivors590who our government has failed at every turn. We failed to591protect them from the appalling human trafficking and rape ring592in the first place. Then, our government failed them again by593not holding any of Epstein's powerful friends accountable,594exposing victims' names while censoring the names of595perpetrators and playing outrageous political games with the596files and DOJ's possession that they are legally compelled to597turn over to Congress and make public.598 I was happy to hear that the First Lady of the United599States agrees with that. We hope that our Committee will heed600her call to hold hearings, as Ms. Trump said, ``with the601survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's billion-dollar global sex602trafficking ring.''603 This is also why we speak up for all the people victimized604and harmed by the people who stormed the Capitol on January 6,6052021. Not only the over 150 police officers who were606bludgeoned, beaten, crushed, and even died because of what607happened that day, but also for all those who have been harmed608by the January 6th perpetrators after they got their pardons609from President Trump. These pardon recipients have gone on to610abuse women and children, plot murders, and commit sexual611assault and kidnapping.612 After January 6th rioter Andrew Paul Johnson got his pardon613from President Trump, he repeatedly sexually abused two 12-614year-old children and tried to keep them quiet by promising to615share with them some of the millions of dollars in restitution616that he plans to receive from the Trump Administration. If not617for President Trump's pardon, these children never would have618been molested. Their innocence would not have been shattered by619this monster.620 It is essential to hear from people harmed also by the621aggressive police State style immigration enforcement tactics622that have terrified the country. They don't target the worst of623the worst; they are the worst of the worst. This includes624hearing from the families of the three American citizens ICE625agents have gunned down point-blank in our streets, like Renee626Good, the 36-year-old mother and poet who was shot three times627in the head and body by an ICE officer while she was driving628her car.629 This includes the American citizens who have been profiled,630beaten, detained, and even deported by ICE. It includes the631police officers who are finding it more difficult to do their632jobs because immigrant communities no longer trust them and633prosecutors whose cases are stymied because ICE deports their634defendants, witnesses, and victims before their trials can even635begin, and it includes the family members of people who have636died at the hands of their abusers because they were too afraid637to report them to the police for fear they would be deported.638 Failing to arrest and deport the worst of the worst makes639all of us less safe, but so, too, does allowing Federal agents640to trample the rights and freedoms of the American people.641 I want to thank you all again for appearing before us today642and hope that we will continue to listen to the voices of643everyone whose lives have been so immeasurably altered by the644failure of our government to act and enact meaningful policy645changes to keep all our streets and all our people safe. I look646forward to hearing your testimony today, and I yield back, Mr.647Chair.648 Mr. Van Drew. I thank the Ranking Member. Without649objection, all other opening statements will be included in the650record.651 We now will introduce today's witnesses.652 Ms. Patricia Fox. Ms. Fox lives in Denver metro area and is653the full-time caregiver to her daughter, Carissa. Carissa was654hit by an unlicensed and uninsured driver who entered the655United States illegally. She sustained a traumatic brain injury656and now requires full-time care.657 Jen Heiling. Ms. Heiling is the mother of Brady Heiling, a658young man who, along with his girlfriend, were hit by an659illegal alien. Brady died from his injuries five days later,660while his girlfriend was killed instantly. The alien was a661Honduran national and was intoxicated and driving the wrong way662on the highway.663 Mr. Antonio Romanucci. Mr. Romanucci is the founding664partner of Romanucci Blandin, a Chicago-based law firm. He665represents the family of Renee Good.666 Ms. Laura Wilkerson. Ms. Wilkerson is the mother of Joshua667Wilkerson, a young man who was beaten to death, set on fire by668an illegal alien who was his high school classmate. Joshua was669giving this individual a ride home from school when he attacked670him.671 We are going to begin by swearing you all in. Would you672please rise? Raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm673under penalty of perjury that the testimony you are about to674give is true and correct to the best of your knowledge,675information, and belief, so help you God.676 Thank you. You may sit down. Let the record reflect the677witnesses have answered in the affirmative. Please know that678your written testimony will be entered into the record in its679entirety. We ask that you summarize your testimony to no longer680than five minutes.681 Ms. Fox, you may begin.682683 STATEMENT OF PATRICIA FOX684685 Ms. Fox. Thank you for reminding us where we were. I686thought for a second that I wandered into an Epstein file687hearing. ``Now, that I have been holding my arms open to what688life has to offer me, I couldn't be happier.'' That was the689last text from my daughter roughly two hours before an690unlicensed, uninsured, illegal alien would run a stop sign,691cross three lanes of traffic without looking, and collide with692Carissa, slamming her head first into a concrete barrier. The693driver then fled the scene with her boyfriend and aunt, not694knowing if my daughter was alive or dead.695 My daughter was ambitious. She was enrolled in esthetician696school. She quickly rose to the top of her class, landed jobs697with high-end salons. She would smile with confidence as she698talked about her dreams of opening a skincare line based on699beauty secrets around the world. She was very specific that her700goal was to make quality skincare affordable for everyone701because everyone deserved to feel beautiful. I was so proud of702the young woman that Carissa was blossoming into before my703eyes. She would have done it, too, because when my daughter put704her mind to something, she achieved it.705 Now, she's minimally conscious, nonverbal, is wheel chair706bound, and eats through a feeding tube. She has very little707cognitive control over her body. She communicates discomfort708through grunts and moans and, at night, she often calls out to709me. I think she is afraid of the dark, or being alone, or both.710I don't know for sure because she can't tell me.711 I know the pulse ox that monitors her vitals while she is712sleeping says her heart rate is high when I walk in. Then, I713touch her arm and sing to her in those wee hours, and her heart714rate goes back down and she goes to sleep. To think, we're the715lucky ones. My little girl survived. I still get to kiss her. I716still get to hold her hand. Many Angel Families don't get that.717 That blessing is not lost on me. For us, there is hope,718regardless of what the doctors say, because my God is big and719he happens to be in the business of miracles. Hope for the720future does not erase today's reality. That reality is my721daughter's care is now my full-time responsibility. Her medical722needs are extensive. Her medical bills well into seven figures723and growing. The person responsible for this has contributed724nothing.725 I am not here out of anger, but out of responsibility,726responsibility to my daughter and responsibility to ensure that727what happened to Carissa is not simply dismissed as an728unfortunate exception but recognized as an all-too-common729pattern. This is not just about my family. Destructive730sanctuary policies carry real-world consequences. Angel731Families live with these consequences every day. Each Angel732Family that comes before all of you is risking more pain and733trauma. We receive death threats. We have lost friends. We have734to relive our trauma over and over again, every time we tell735our stories.736 Who is going to tell our stories if we don't? You will737never hear Carissa's story from Colorado Democrats, like John738Hickenlooper, Jason Crow, Brittany Petersen, or Joe Neguse.739Here we are telling our stories until not one more American740daughter, American son, or American family loses a loved one to741these fully preventable tragedies.742 We are often told that illegal aliens commit crimes at743lower rates than American citizens. They say studies show, but744when you start digging into those studies they don't hold up745under scrutiny. Let's talk about some statistics that we do746know. Unlicensed drivers are estimated to have five times747higher risk of being involved in a fatal crash. They are often748involved in reckless behaviors, such as speeding and impaired749driving, leading to higher rates of serious injury and750fatalities. Colorado has one of the highest rates of uninsured751drivers in the United States, with estimates between 17-20752percent. Of all uninsured Colorado drivers, about 25 percent753are estimated to be unlicensed illegal aliens. Do you think754that a driver is magically protected from these statistics755simply because they are undocumented?756 Here's another factual statistic: Entering the United757States illegally is considered a criminal offense under Federal758law. One-hundred percent of illegal aliens are criminals.759 We often hear that enforcement should only focus on the760worst of the worst. My daughter was not harmed by someone that761was labeled as the worst of the worst. She was harmed by762someone who shouldn't have been in a position to hurt her in763the first place.764 I reject the idea that families must wait for tragedy765before action is taken. There should not have to be a Carissa,766a Brady, a Hallie, or a Joshua. Public policy should not767require a threshold of victims on either side. Our children are768not your collateral damage. Thank you.769 [The prepared statement of Ms. Fox follows:]770 [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]771772 Mr. Van Drew. Thank you, Ms. Fox. No words, no words. Ms.773Heiling, you are next. Thank you.774775 STATEMENT OF JENNIFER HEILING776777 Ms. Heiling. Thank you. My name is Jennifer Heiling. I am778an Angel Mom, and I am from a small town in Minnesota. My son,779Brady Heiling, and his girlfriend, Hallie Helgeson, were780tragically killed while celebrating their three-year781anniversary at a concert in Wisconsin. We got a text that they782had made it to their car and were headed home. This would be783the last thing that we had ever heard from them. On July 20,7842025, our lives came to a screeching halt. Brady and Hallie785were innocently driving home while an illegal immigrant that786was driving the wrong way while intoxicated crashed into them.787She was a multiple offender two times over her legal limit and788had failed to install her interlock device that would have789prevented this whole incident from happening. Above all else,790she has never had a driver's license to be on the road in the791first place.792 This woman was not a hardened criminal. She was just a mom793that was allowed to live in this country completely exempt from794consequences for breaking our laws. Time after time, she was795allowed to keep living here above the law without any attempt796to change her behavior and bad decisions. The ability to seek797protection and be shielded by living in a sanctuary city will798continue to allow illegal immigrants to continue to take the799innocent lives of Americans.800 If you want to seek refuge in our country and make a better801life for yourself, I am in total support but expect you to802follow our laws. Our safety depends on it. Why are we allowing803people to live among us that want to cause us harm? Why are we804expected to allow them to keep offending and not be deported?805Do you think this is really helping anyone seek a better life?806It is not. This is called being an enabler. If you are unable807to live by the laws of this country, you should be removed at808the very first offense. Why are we waiting for our children to809be murdered? If the woman responsible for murdering our810children was deported after the first time she was drinking and811driving, we wouldn't be forced to be living this nightmare.812 To allow someone to continue to be on the road with813multiple traffic violations, a history of drinking and driving,814not to mention never legally obtaining a driver's license or815citizenship, is absolutely recklessness. This entire tragedy816was completely preventable, and not just for us but for her817too. If you think allowing anyone to live their lives here818without consequence is helping them in any way become a better819person, you are mistaken. This woman will have to live the rest820of her life knowing she not only murdered two innocent821teenagers full of hopes, dreams, just ready to start their822lives together, but she also destroyed her life, our life, our823community, and our community's lives. Generations of kids and824classmates left to figure out why was this allowed to happen.825It should have never happened.826 Try to explain to Brady's 11-year-old sister that he will827never attend another one of her events to cheer her on. He will828never get to see her grow up. Explain to his 16-year-old sister829he won't get to be here to protect her from the guys with bad830intentions or meeting her newest farm animal addition. Tell831Hallie's brother that he is now an only child, all because an832illegal immigrant that was allowed to live in a sanctuary city833while breaking our laws repeatedly until she finally murdered834someone with her reckless selfish ways. Please, I beg you to835explain to me that I will not get to watch my son grow into the836man I was so diligently raising him to be. I will not get to837see him succeed at all his goals he has worked so hard to make838come true. Then, you explain to Hallie's mom why she will never839get to see her little girl become a mother herself, and you840explain to her dad why he will never get to walk his little841girl down the aisle and give her away.842 Please, I ask that you tell my husband that the company he843spent his whole life building was for nothing. Brady will never844get to work alongside of him just so that a group of people845that feel it is more important to protect those illegal846immigrants let them keep offending until they completely847destroy the lives of innocent children and families is more848important than our rights and safety of American citizens.849 It is really easy to say that we need to protect these850groups when you are unaffected. It is really easy for people I851don't even know to sit there and say my kids deserve better852than to be part of a political agenda. If you believe this to853be true, you are sadly mistaken. I don't want to be here. We854don't want to be here, but we weren't given a choice. Our855children were murdered. Here we are trying to prevent this856nightmare from happening to anyone else.857 It is to protect the loved ones of the very people858attacking us. Some of my own family find it necessary to tell859me this is an issue of drinking and driving, not immigration.860If this particular woman would have been responsibly dealt with861and deported after the first time drinking and driving, then we862would not be in this position right now. My entire future has863been literally stolen from me in a way that will never make864sense, and it still doesn't seem real.865 I should be listening to Brady and Hallie tell me about866college and about how they can't wait to come home for the867summer. Because we continue to protect people like this and868give them free reign in our communities, the innocent lives869will continue to be taken. Angel Families will continue to870multiply. Whose kid has to die before these people will see871where we are coming from? Whose family has to be destroyed872before they are willing to admit, hey, we have a problem? What873tragedy has to rip their lives apart before they realize that,874when they tell me I need to look at my situation differently,875it is selfish, heartless, and cruel? If my reasoning is wrong,876then I pray that you will never know how it feels to live a day877in my life.878 [The prepared statement of Ms. Heiling follows:]879 [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]880881 Mr. Van Drew. Thank you, Ms. Heiling. Mr. Romanucci.882883 STATEMENT OF ANTONIO ROMANUCCI884885 Mr. Romanucci. Chair Van Drew, Chair Jordan, Ranking Member886Crockett, and Ranking Member Raskin, my name is Antonio887Romanucci. I am a national civil rights attorney, and I have888the deep honor of representing the family of Renee Good. It was889her tragic death in Minnesota by Federal immigration agents in890Minneapolis that I took on that representation. I also891represent U.S. citizens whose constitutional rights were892violated by Federal agents in Chicago.893 First, please let me express my deepest respect to my894copanelists and mothers who have suffered unthinkable loss,895tragedy, and trauma. Your families' tragedies are inexcusable,896and we respect your courage. As someone who represents victims897of violent crime, that too often the second tragedy is that898victims struggle to get the justice that they deserve.899 We share your concern that America needs commonsense900immigration reform. I have heard all you say the same thing.901Marching thousands of masked agents into communities, rounding902up Black and Brown people, including children, terrorizing903them, while creating collateral damage of death and904catastrophic harm to American citizens, that's not the answer.905All Americans should feel safe in their own cities where906citizens are free from unlawful harm from anyone, including907agents of their own government. Harm of Americans, by908Americans, in American cities is devastating to our Republic.909Those who have committed these violations of rights must be910held accountable, just as all people who commit violent acts911must be held accountable.912 Allow me to give insight into an American mother of three,913Renee Good, who was killed while she was squarely being914protected by the First Amendment. Here are words that her915brother spoke to fellow Members of Congress not long ago,916quote:917918 The deep distress our family feels because of Renee's loss in919 such a violent and unnecessary way is complicated by feelings920 of disbelief and desperation for change. Our family took some921 consolation thinking that perhaps Renee's death would bring922 change in our country. It has not. These encounters with923 Federal agents are changing many lives, including ours,924 forever. The most important thing we can do is help our country925 understand what a beautiful American we have lost. A sister, a926 daughter, a mother, a partner, and friend.927928 The distress is also felt by Alex Pretti's family. It is929felt by Marimar Martinez in Chicago, shot five times by a930Federal agent while bringing a donation to church. It is felt931by elected official Juan Munoz, violently detained and used as932a prop for a DHS video. It is felt by children separated from933their parents and shipped to detention centers in another934State.935 Family after family in city after city, the harms by our936own Federal Government in American cities are staggering:937Needless injury and death by masked agents undermining trust in938all law enforcement, violations of freedom of speech, Fourth939Amendment freedom from unlawful search and seizure, false940statements of absolute immunity for agents and false narratives941about victims, and failure to properly investigate claims of942police misconduct.943 What is not understood is that Renee Good's family cannot944pursue justice against a Federal officer the same way as if a945State or local officer had fired those gunshots. This anomaly946must end. Federal officers should not receive a special pass on947accountability, and there should be a bridge to justice for all948victims.949 Current law requires that you ask for permission from this950Federal Government to file a lawsuit against it and only allows951for a trial by judge and not a jury in defiance of the 7th952Amendment. Reasonable updates to Section 1983 of the Civil953Rights Act or the Federal Tort Claims Act are needed to ensure954access to justice and accountability for wrongdoers. I urge955Congress to ensure all people have the right to a jury trial,956including those hurt or killed by Federal officers.957 In conclusion, I deeply respect the mothers who spoke their958truths today. Their pain and anger are something no parent959should ever experience, and it is palpable in this room. The960family of Renee Good and so many other families impacted by the961acts of Federal agents have, likewise, suffered immeasurable962pain and anger, and all victims are worthy of the right to seek963accountability.964 We all want safety and peace. Criminal acts of all kinds965must be addressed. Please create commonsense immigration966policies. Pursue accountability for the harm done by ICE with967the same level of commitment that you pursue accountability for968all people who commit crimes in this country and demand full969compliance to our United States Constitution. Thank you.970 [The prepared statement of Mr. Romanucci follows:]971 [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]972973 STATEMENT OF LAURA WILKERSON974975 Ms. Wilkerson. Thank you for having me here today to tell976you the story of my son, Joshua. My husband and I raised three977children, and Josh was the baby of our family. He was 18 years978old and a senior in high school. A classmate of his asked him979for a ride home and, unbeknownst to him, that classmate wanted980to murder Josh so that he could scrap his truck for some money.981 Instead of getting Josh home that day, we got an autopsy982report that explained just exactly how Josh died. There were983three manners of death: Abdomen trauma, head trauma, and984strangulation. I guess I feel lucky that he was dead before he985was set on fire.986 This creates a hole in a family like you can never imagine.987It will never be repaired here. Our lives will be different. It988is like a bomb was dropped in our family. Even if we could pick989up the pieces, you can't put them back together, right?990 I am OK with where Josh is at today. What I am not OK with991are the lies that I am hearing as I sit here sometimes.992 Josh deserved to live. His brother was defending this993country in the Air Force. He got to come home for two weeks to994bury his little brother and then go back to defending this995country and put his grief on the shelf. Now, that he is out, he996deals with things later and it affects our family in every997single way.998 The lies I want to talk about today are what I am hearing999from Ms. Crockett and Mr. Raskin about I think you said there's1000potential terrorists roaming the streets. Those are due to1001sanctuary city policies. You invited the criminal element to,1002hey, come to our city and we are going to give you a sanctuary.1003What are you giving them a sanctuary from? The law? Who else1004gets sanctuary from the law? Do I get it? You feel sympathy for1005me? I am never going to be the same. Can I go do what I want to1006do and get sanctuary from the law?1007 I can't even understand how you can say you are inviting1008the criminal element to come to your city and what you are1009doing is putting them over the citizens, the ones that are1010supposed to be voting for you, although we know illegals vote1011in the elections. Failed policies are under Obama inviting,1012opening the U.S. border to any and everybody, allowing them1013without vetting them, and shipping them off to other parts of1014the country so that they can vote in that area, giving them1015driver's licenses, giving them social security cards, allowing1016them to be citizens without being citizens and vote for a1017certain party.1018 The lies about what you are saying are just that--they're1019lies. They can protest and, as far as Ms. Good's family, walk1020down the street all day long with a protest sign, walk down it1021all day long. You can fix it by telling them you can't get in1022the middle of a law enforcement investigation. I don't care how1023bad you think the policy is wrong. Don't get in the middle of1024an investigation of law enforcement. That would be the first1025way not to die if you want a simple protest.1026 Antifa is not peaceful protesting. Those are the lies. It1027is lie after lie after lie after lie. None of you care about1028these people. You don't care about my kid. You don't care about1029theirs. You don't care about Ms. Good. It just suits you. It is1030frustrating to hear the lies after lies after lies, and it is1031over and over and over.1032 I had hoped at my testimony 10 years ago, I wouldn't have1033to meet new families like this. Boy, I was so naive. We are1034still talking about giving sanctuary to people that broke the1035law. What about the people that stood in line and did it the1036hard way? Wrote letters home to their home country and said,1037''look, we made it to America.'' They didn't know how to speak1038the language. They didn't have a car. They didn't have a lot of1039money. They did it the right way, and they were granted the1040American dream. Many of them accomplished that. What about1041those people you are letting in; in front of those people? How1042does that make sense in your eyes? How do you sleep at night1043saying you are gonna give sanctuary to people who broke into1044this country?1045 I don't know how you sleep at night, but what I do know is1046you don't care about our kids. They are collateral damage in1047the things that you want to happen. That is all they are. They1048are collateral damage. You can tell me about the sympathy, and1049I believe your sympathy. You don't want anybody to die. I1050understand that. Think about if it is your kid. You got any1051grandkids? You got kids? Think about your baby, a baby in your1052family, and think about in an hour you may have to go home1053watch or listen to your wife tell you that your son didn't come1054home from school today because he was beaten and tortured and1055set on fire by somebody that didn't need to be in this country.1056 His parents had overstayed a visa. His father was given a1057Social Security card and a driver's license so that he could1058work, and he overstayed that visa. Then, he brought his whole1059family here without a visa to come in illegally. That is what I1060am mad about. If you really cared about this, you would stand1061up and quit calling for sanctuary cities. It makes no sense.1062 All you're doing is trying to put people that have come1063into the country illegally before American citizens, especially1064even about the Renee Good. I feel for their family. They have1065lost a family member through no fault of their own, but she1066chose to go there that day. She chose to aim her car at a1067policeman. If she chose those actions, that got her killed. ICE1068isn't just deciding who to pick up. They are going after1069criminals in this country, and, if you're in the middle of that1070and you get in the middle of it and you want to go out there1071and tell them they shouldn't be doing it and you are an1072illegal, pick you up, too. Sorry. That's just the way it has to1073be.1074 President Trump and Tom Homan and the Border Patrol have1075stopped the leak of illegal immigration in this country. It is1076ICE's job to clean up the dang mess. It is going to be hard.1077There are going to be casualties. There are going to be unhappy1078people and families that are hurting. I say if you are not1079putting your kids six feet under the dirt and turning around1080and walking away from the cemetery, you will be all right.1081 Stop the nonsense. Stop it. It is time to clean up the mess1082of what happened under the last few administrations. I really1083don't care if they are unhappy. I am so grateful they could go1084home and see their kid, or they can FaceTime their kid in1085another country or the kid here can FaceTime. Their parents put1086them in that situation. Their parents brought him over or1087brought them over there when they were young. I understand it1088is no fault of the kids, but their parents put him that1089situation. You have parents in other countries that come here1090illegally and then they call for some yahoo to transport their1091kid across the border to join them. They don't care if they get1092raped all along the way because that's what happens. We know1093it, I know it, and you know it.1094 Mr. Van Drew. Ms. Wilkerson, I could listen to you all day,1095and I mean it. I could. Your time has expired. I have been very1096lenient. You are about 1\1/2\ minutes over.1097 Ms. Wilkerson. Sorry.1098 Mr. Van Drew. No, don't be sorry. I am sorry I have to say1099this, but if you could wrap it up. Your entire testimony,1100anything else you have to say, will be put in the permanent1101record.1102 Ms. Wilkerson. Thank you. Thank you for listening to me. I1103just want you to know that the leak has been stopped. Continue1104to fight to clean up the mess. Stop the nonsense of sanctuary1105cities.1106 [The prepared statement of Ms. Wilkerson follows:]1107[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]11081109Mr. Van Drew. Thank you, Ms. Wilkerson. We are going to now1110proceed under the five-minute rule with questions for those on1111the panel, and we are going to start with Mr. Schmidt from the1112State of Kansas.1113 Mr. Schmidt. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to thank all our1114witnesses for being here and for not just taking your time but1115for giving your hearts. We are grateful for sharing your1116stories because it makes it real for people who are watching1117and who will read this record and who understand that this is1118more than a policy debate. Thank you for your time.1119 Let me start with this direction. Ms. Wilkerson, let me1120start with you. I am sorry, I didn't catch, where is your home1121State?1122 Ms. Wilkerson. It was Houston, Texas.1123 Mr. Schmidt. In Texas.1124 Ms. Wilkerson. I live just outside of Houston, yes.1125 Mr. Schmidt. What happened to the person who killed your1126child?1127 Ms. Wilkerson. I got justice in a court of law, probably1128because it was in Texas. He could have gotten between 5-991129years. He received 99 years, and that means he has to serve 301130years before he comes up for parole. We have about another 151131years before I have to start fighting not to let him out--him1132getting out of jail.1133 I am grateful that he got some justice. I know so many1134parents don't get that.1135 Mr. Schmidt. Ms. Heiling, may I ask you the same question?1136What happened to the person who killed your child?1137 Ms. Heiling. Brady and Hallie had their crash happen this1138past July. We have been pushed off and pushed off. Things take1139time, we're told. This is just how it works. Be patient. Try to1140raise your family, try to go about your life, but be patient.1141We are still living this justice you speak of.1142 Mr. Schmidt. How old was Brady?1143 Ms. Heiling. He was 19, and Hallie was 18.1144 Mr. Schmidt. Brady looked like quite an athlete from the1145photos.1146 Ms. Heiling. Brady and Hallie were both amazing athletes.1147Brady turned down scholarships to stay home and support Hallie1148in her athletics. They were going to start college together in1149about two weeks. All their college belongings are still in1150their rooms in our basements, just like they're going to come1151back and we're going to send them off someday.1152 You are right. He looked like an amazing athlete because he1153was. He is a very special boy to a lot of people that know him1154and that don't know him. He has made a huge impact.1155 Mr. Schmidt. I saw what looked like football photos. Was he1156a multisport athlete?1157 Ms. Heiling. Brady played football mainly. He was a State1158track athlete. He ran relays and threw the shot put. He went1159two years in a row to the State competition, and he weight1160trained in between times. As you can see by the size of his1161biceps, he never missed a workout session. He was very self-1162disciplined. He was very much a rule follower. To die in the1163way he did, innocently, trying to get home, the rule follower1164in him was screaming at the top of his lungs this woman is1165drunk, she's driving the wrong way, I don't have time to react.1166Why wasn't she home with her own family taking care of them,1167sparing my child?1168 Mr. Schmidt. Where were they going to go to college?1169 Ms. Heiling. They were going to go over to South Dakota to1170Lake Area Tech. He was planning on opening a diesel mechanic1171shop at our house. We just finished building. Him and his dad1172had spent the whole summer. They own semis and excavating1173equipment. They do a lot of dirt work and truck hauling, and he1174was going to open that shop to be able to service all those1175trucks.1176 Like I said, he was very independently driven, had lots of1177goals. He had a plan for him and Hallie. It was a little1178different than what he was anticipating.1179 Mr. Schmidt. Thank you, ma'am.1180 Ms. Heiling. You are welcome.1181 Mr. Schmidt. Ms. Fox, what happened to the person who hit1182your daughter?1183 Ms. Fox. I contacted the VOICE, Victims of Immigration1184Crime Engagement, back in January. After our seventh1185arraignment, she took the plea, pleading guilty to Class 51186felony, conspiracy to flee the scene of an accident with severe1187bodily injury. I filed a report with VOICE, and we received1188news that she has since been deported. February 28th, it was1189confirmed that she is back in Venezuela.1190 Mr. Schmidt. Each of the three of you had interaction with1191the criminal justice system after the crimes that injured or1192killed your children. Since this all happened, to each of the1193three mothers just quickly, has anybody who engaged in the1194policies that let those people stay in this country illegally1195beforehand, has anybody contacted you and expressed sympathy or1196apologized to you?1197 Ms. Heiling. No. We have heard from one politician from our1198local area expressing his sincere condolences, but we have1199heard nothing about anything that was done wrong in justice, as1200much as Ms. Renee Good has received.1201 Ms. Wilkerson. I had several Republicans express their1202sympathy, but most of the others just wanted to look away and1203they are not emotionally strong enough to look at it, let alone1204live through it, but they are not going to change a policy.1205That is why I fully believe that our kids are just collateral1206damage.1207 Mr. Schmidt. Thank you. My time is expired, Mr. Chair. I1208just want to say we are very sorry that our country let this1209happen to you.1210 Mr. Van Drew. Thank you, Mr. Schmidt. I recognize the1211gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Hank Johnson.1212 Mr. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am so sorry for what1213has happened to your children. I cannot imagine what you have1214gone through, and no parent should have to go through what you1215have gone through. All victims of violent crime deserve1216justice, but this hearing is not about justice.1217 It is entitled, ``The Human Toll of Sanctuary Policies:1218Stories From Victims and Families.'' We could very well have1219done a hearing on the human toll of the Trump-MAGA tax cuts on122017 million Americans who got their healthcare access and food1221security ripped out from under them so that the wealthiest1222billionaires in this country could get another tax cut, or we1223could have entitled this hearing or had a hearing on the human1224toll of Trump's stupid war with Iran and how it is making life1225increasingly unaffordable for people here in America except for1226the wealthiest Americans--they can pay whatever the price is.1227We could have had a hearing on the human toll of Trump's1228desperate cover-up of the Epstein files, the toll that has1229played on the victims of that international child sex-abuse1230ring. No, we are here today, and not to cast any aspersions on1231any of you for testifying, but this is a Steve Miller-approved1232hearing whose sole aim is to stir up passion and bias and1233prejudice against immigrants who are people of color.1234 Now, we have had mass murder after mass murder in this1235country perpetrated by all kinds of people, but I just want to1236talk about those that have been perpetrated by White males.1237Robert Card opened fire at a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine,1238killing 18 people and wounding 13. Payton Gendron, a White1239supremacist, killed 10 people in a racist attack at a1240supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Randy Stair, a 32-year-old,1241suspected of killing a family of four in Romeoville, Illinois.1242Richard Dale Crum, a 52-year-old man in Arkabutla, Mississippi,1243who shot and killed six people, including his ex-wife and1244stepfather. The 38-year-old Courtney Gordon who stabbed four1245relatives, including two children, to death in New York City. I1246could go on and on in terms of tragedies and victims of tragedy1247who could be brought here to talk about this MAGA Republican1248failure to do anything about gun control.1249 Even the fact that, Mr. Romanucci, you are seated No. 31250instead of No. 4, normally the three Republican witnesses would1251be seated together, not sandwiching the Democratic witness, in1252between you. You got sandwiched today for the dramatic effect1253of it. It is all politics, and it is unfortunate what my1254friends here on the other side of the aisle are perpetrating.1255 Mr. Romanucci, the killing of Ms. Good was by rogue ICE1256officers, Federal agents, who can't even be sued for the damage1257that they have done to your client's loved ones. That is wrong.1258That is why I've introduced the Bivens Act, which would allow1259people to bring Federal officials into court and sue them1260against these egregious actions. There are many. Certainly,1261they equate. I am not minimizing the tragedy that is before us1262today with you three women, but these other tragedies at the1263hands of nonimmigrants is just as important.1264 My Bivens Act would ensure that all victims and their loved1265ones can get justice, even if the perpetrator is a government1266official. That is why I've also introduced the Constitutional1267Accountability Act, which would establish that Federal, State,1268and local governments have the same respondent superior1269liability that private employers have for their employees.1270 There is much we can do to bring justice to those who have1271been aggrieved by tragedy. This MAGA Republican Congress is1272incapable and unwilling to do anything in that regard, and that1273is unfortunate.1274 I am going to be the one who yields back after going only127511 minutes over. Thank you, and I yield back.1276 Mr. Van Drew. Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Yes, that was 111277seconds over. In 11 minutes, I would have been tapping the1278gavel. With that, Mr. Schmidt.1279 Mr. Schmidt. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have some unanimous1280consent requests.1281 Mr. Van Drew. Without objection.1282 Mr. Schmidt. I would ask unanimous consent to include in1283the record an article titled, ``ICE Asks Governor Pritzker and1284Chicago Sanctuary Politicians to Not Release Criminal Illegal1285Alien Accused of Killing 18-year-old Loyola College Student.''1286 Also, an article titled, ``Mayor Frey's Sanctuary Policies1287Release Criminal Illegal Aliens from Jails Back into1288Minneapolis Streets to Terrorize More Innocent Americans.''1289 Also, unanimous consent to include in the record an article1290titled, ``Illinois Father Says Pritzker Shows `Indifference' to1291His Daughter Being Killed by Illegal Immigrant.''1292 Mr. Van Drew. Without objection.1293 Mr. Schmidt. Thank you, Mr. Chair.1294 Ms. Crockett. Mr. Chair, I have a UC.1295 Mr. Van Drew. Without objection.1296 Ms. Crockett. This is from the Texas Tribune. It is from1297March 29th, actually my birthday, 2010. ``Houston, no1298sanctuary, Annise Parker, Says,'' who was the mayor at the1299time.1300 Ms. Wilkerson. Can I respond to that?1301 Mr. Van Drew. Thank you. You know what? Mr. Gill is going1302to speak next, and he is going to yield some of his time to1303you. Is that OK?1304 Ms. Wilkerson. Yes, sir.1305 Mr. Van Drew. With that, I recognize Mr. Gill.1306 Mr. Gill. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for holding this hearing.1307Thank you to the witnesses for coming here and telling us your1308stories and your families' stories. Before we get into that, it1309is worth saying that was one of the most disgusting testimoneys1310I have ever heard. To have Hank come in here and lecture Angel1311Families about how they shouldn't be here, how we shouldn't be1312holding this hearing. What the hell is wrong with you guys? The1313reason they are here is because of open borders that you guys1314perpetrated for four years. To come in here and to turn this1315into a MAGA Republican idiotic low IQ lecture is sickening. To1316whine about which seats they are in, it is disgusting.1317 That said, I'd like to give you guys a chance to respond to1318some of the things that you have heard. I will start with you,1319Ms. Wilkerson.1320 Ms. Wilkerson. Thank you. I just wanted to say that it was1321a spoken policy of Houston to be a sanctuary. It wasn't written1322at that point. The suburbs around Houston followed that same1323policy. Annise Parker is kind of laughable to me.1324 This hearing could also be about why we are not or people1325aren't voting. There is a slush fund for people up here in1326these places that have committed crimes or people have said,1327oh, you've raped and stuff. This hearing could have been about1328that, too, but it is not. It is about our kids that we lost and1329about the very fact that sanctuary city policies is creating a1330haven for people that came to this country illegally. Thank1331you.1332 Ms. Heiling. You can put me in whatever order, in whatever1333seat. My tragedy is never going to be OK. I will be last. I1334will be first. I will be 42nd seat, if that is what you want.1335We are so used to hearing everyone tell us, but we are sorry,1336please hear our condolences, but this hearing should be about1337this, this hearing should be about me. It is not. Today is our1338day. Hear us. Leave your buts in your seat. I don't wanna hear1339your buts. Our tragedies are disgusting.1340 I still wait for my children to come home. It is not real1341to me. My 11-year-old, my 16-year-old, they are waiting for1342their car to come home with Brady and Hallie in it because1343guess what? It is evidence. We can't have that back yet. My1344garage door is empty. The girls say, mom, we still think they1345are gonna come home and tell us all about the concert and1346celebrating their anniversary because the car is not here. They1347will come home, won't they?1348 We can't pick a headstone because that makes it too real,1349but you can sit here and tell us about what kind of hearing1350this should be. Renee Good is not the same as Angel Families.1351She made a choice. She left her home that day, made the choice.1352Brady and Hallie didn't get a choice. Carissa didn't get a1353choice. Joshua didn't get a choice. They are living American1354laws, the American dream. They were trying to make this place1355better, and they were stolen by somebody who doesn't care. Give1356me all your buts, I am used to it.1357 Ms. Fox. I don't know if anybody has noticed, but I am not1358White. I wake up Brown every day. I am not sure what race has1359to do with any of this. Four. There are four kids that we1360talked about today, and you all can't seem to stay on topic for1361what, an hour of your time. You got to bring up what about,1362what about, what about.1363 No. We are talking about these four kids. We are talking1364about Angel Families. Stay on topic. I don't want to talk about1365Epstein right now. That is another hearing. I don't want to1366talk about ICE detainees. That is another hearing. Right now,1367today, we are talking about sanctuary policies and how they1368have wrecked our families.1369 You all come and you all feed Carissa. You get her up from1370her bed using a crane, and then you tell me and lecture me what1371this hearing should be about.1372 Mr. Gill. Ms. Wilkerson, we have a little bit more time.1373Would you like to have the floor to respond to anything else1374you've heard today?1375 Ms. Wilkerson. I just have to agree with them both. This1376hearing could be about anything, and I appreciate that they1377want to get some things on record, but it is not what it is1378about today. It is about American citizens whose parents try to1379do the right thing.1380 I stayed at-home mom because I wanted to give Josh my1381values, my kids my values and teach them right from wrong and1382take them to church. You get almost through to that point, and1383then somebody that shouldn't even have been here just steals1384their life right out from under you. You will never understand1385the pain. I pray that you don't understand the pain.1386 It is about giving a group of people sanctuary from the1387law. Nobody gets sanctuary from the law. It is absolutely1388ridiculous. It is hard to believe we are sitting here begging1389you to obey the laws that you all made. There are laws in the1390books. If we just start with that, we would be better off if we1391just start enforcing those. Nobody gets sanctuary from the law.1392How to stay, how to not get killed by the police, don't get1393involved in something they are doing. It is pretty much1394commonsense.1395 I want it to remain about the kids, American citizens that1396have been lost. I think this gentleman over here, Mr. Johnson,1397said that you could fill this room. You could fill stadiums.1398They don't keep statistics. They don't want statistics. They1399don't want you to know how many people--1400 Mr. Van Drew. Ms. Wilkerson, I'm sorry. I get to be the bad1401guy today. I don't mean to be. I really could listen to all of1402you all day. I am trying, as Chair, to get it under control. We1403have let everybody on both sides--1404 Ms. Wilkerson. Thank you. No problem. I can talk for--1405 Mr. Van Drew. I know, I know. I thank you for that. Does1406the gentleman yield back?1407 Mr. Gill. Yes, I yield back.1408 Mr. Van Drew. Thank you. I thank the gentleman. With that,1409I recognize the Ranking Member, Jasmine Crockett.1410 Ms. Crockett. Thank you so much. I hear your rage. I don't1411have children and literally have never lost a child, nor have1412one injured, to actually really be in your shoes. One thing1413that I can tell you about the redirection is because so often1414what we see happen is politicians play games. The reality is1415that if you are talking about a sanctuary city, then we are1416talking about city government. We are talking about local1417control, something that the Republicans used to espouse that1418they believed in. They used to believe in whoever lives in that1419city, you elect who is going to run that city. That city,1420whether it is the police department, which it is the police1421department and law enforcement that make the decisions about1422what they do. We don't pick the police chief for any given1423city, not on the Federal level. That comes from the city level.1424That comes from whoever the people of that city actually elect1425to represent them. I believe in local control.1426 Same thing. I live in Texas, too; and, baby, I wish I1427didn't have to deal with Governor Greg Abbott. Local control1428dictates that he is the Governor of our State; and, therefore,1429we have State reps, we have State Senators, and we have a1430Governor, and we have county elected officials and city elected1431officials. We are sitting in Washington, DC, right now. We are1432on the Federal level.1433 What I believe in is something that the Republicans used to1434scream, which is local control. When we're having a1435conversation and a hearing about the human toll, the title1436specifically is the ``Human Toll of Sanctuary Policies: Stories1437from Victims and Families,'' my deal is we aren't the ones that1438decide what cities do.1439 What they have decided to do is they have decided to play1440on your pain, and that is why I am frustrated. Because hear me1441when I say this: I have seen people, whether it was an American1442citizen or not that killed your child or harmed your child, I1443believe it is wrong. To me, it wouldn't have made it any less1444painful, and I could be wrong again because I don't have any1445kids, but if, for some reason, it had been a U.S. citizen that1446ended up harming or killing your child, the pain would still be1447there. It would still hurt. The reality is that what we need to1448do is make sure we are protecting everybody in this country.1449 I don't wake up and somehow people look and see that1450there's a ``D'' somewhere around my head or something; and so,1451therefore, I am going to somehow be precluded from harm1452becoming me. When I go out to do policy work--and I have worked1453on the State level, too. The policies that I was writing when I1454was on the State level are different from the Federal level1455because we have different levels of control.1456 The one thing that we do have control of you may have1457recognized that the DHS secretary, as we're talking about1458immigration, had to come before this Committee. I want to say1459maybe a day or two after she came before our Committee--because1460we have jurisdiction over her. We don't have jurisdiction over1461your mayors. We have jurisdiction over her. She lost her job.1462The DHS secretary is gone. Now, to be clear about this, the1463Republican President is the one that put her out of her job1464because she was failing.1465 The reason that my colleagues have brought these things1466up--and this isn't to say that the harm and the hurt that you1467are feeling, that you should not be feeling that. It is wrong.1468Again, even as a criminal defense attorney, I can't tell you1469how many times I was begging clients to enter pleas.1470 In fact, it literally made me remember a case that I had1471with a guy who was a veteran. He had served this country. He1472ended up being put on some new medication, and he also ended up1473drinking with that medication. Now, the medication had a1474warning on the bottle, but he went out, he drove, and he killed1475someone's mother. That client told me he had no criminal1476history. He told me over and over and over, he said, ``just1477give me whatever they are going to give me.'' They offered him1478the max, which was 20 years, and I could not, in good1479conscience, knowing that a jury would not give him the max.1480 The only reason we went to trial is because the prosecutor1481wanted to be so greedy. That jury did not give him 20 years. He1482was willing to take 15 years.1483 I am here to tell you that it is never right to break any1484of our laws. The reason that we have gone down the line and the1485reason that we brought Mr. Romanucci is because we actually1486have control over CBP, DHS, and ICE. It's just that these guys1487don't want to exacerbate, use that control. They sit there and1488they allow U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens to have their1489rights violated, and that is something within our purview.1490 If I lived in one of your cities--in fact, I am in Dallas.1491Dallas has a Republican mayor. To be a sanctuary city doesn't1492necessarily mean that you provide sanctuary. It means that you1493are not going to do the Federal Government's job. That is what1494it means. They are local law enforcement. What it means is that1495they are not going to sit there and do the job of Federal1496agents. That is what a sanctuary city means.1497 To be clear again, and I have more articles, the city of1498Houston was not--when you talk about someone being a sanctuary1499city, it is an official policy that they are following. It1500can't be that it is one person. It is the official policy of1501the city. Otherwise, it doesn't work if it is just one person.1502 I will yield. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for your indulgence.1503 Mr. Van Drew. Sure. Yes, the gentleman is recognized.1504 Mr. Gill. Thank God she won't be back next Congress, but I1505would like to ask for unanimous consent to enter into the1506record a few different things. First, ``ICE agent struck by1507Renee Good's vehicle suffered internal bleeding to torso, DHS1508says.''1509 Next, ``DHS reaches more than 4,000 arrests of illegal1510aliens, including murderers, sex offenders, gang members, and1511terrorists in Minnesota since Operation Metro Search began.''1512 Another, ``UPDATE, DHS deploys special operations after1513multiple violent attacks on Federal law enforcement by domestic1514terrorists in Chicago.''1515 Mr. Van Drew. Without objection. I recognize myself for1516five minutes. I want to thank you all for being here, even you,1517Mr. Romanucci. Thank you.1518 Mr. Romanucci. Thank you.1519 Mr. Van Drew. I know it is hard to believe--I don't have1520the words. I don't have the words. It is hard to believe that1521there are people in politics who give a damn. I swear to God1522there are. I am not going to comment on the other side; I am1523not going to talk about Republicans and Democrats. I am not1524going to talk about Epstein. I am not going to talk about all1525the politics that is swirling around.1526 Because so much of it, a lot of times, is BS. You know that1527because you have lived it. You have had to sit in hearings,1528talk to reporters, talk to politicians, and hear all this crap.1529I can speak for me, and I know there is other Members sitting1530up here, if you could feel our hearts, I swear to God. I know I1531said in the beginning it is not enough. I only can say I am1532sorry.1533 You guys did a good job. You did a good job. This isn't1534alligator tears or any BS. I admire you for what you have done.1535It is a big deal. It is as hard on you because you have1536somebody that is so incapacitated, and you are there every day.1537Thank you for what you do because your love is so great.1538 The three of you have so much faith. That is the one thing1539I got out of this. Thank you for that, as well.1540 We talked today about, and I respect the Ranking Member,1541about local government. Yes, it is local governments that are1542doing this. It is States and it is cities, but they are1543breaking the law. They are breaking Federal law. You all said1544it; frankly, we have had legislation that has come before us1545that we have voted for, but it is not going to make it all the1546way through. Not enough people voted for it, that those cities,1547those towns, those counties, those States don't get their1548funding. You want to see politicians run? Man, you take away1549the money that they get, they are going to run.1550 Yes, there are States' rights. I believe in the1551individuality of the States' rights and how our constitution1552was set up. First, it doesn't allow you to break Federal law.1553Second, we had wide open borders, man; we just did. This isn't1554a political debate. Nobody is going to vote for or against me1555on anything in this room today, but we did. We let really bad1556people in. Somebody, one of our Members, said, well,1557``tragedies happen and it could have been an American citizen1558who did that.'' Yes, we couldn't help that because they are an1559American citizen. How do we know? You don't know when you wake1560up in the morning what somebody's going to do to you or to your1561family, your children, whatever.1562 This was preventable. That is the word here. You broke the1563law. They broke the law, and it was preventable. It didn't have1564to be that way. We have talked about it for years.1565 I love immigrants. I love legal immigrants. Many of us, our1566parents, our grandparents, and our great grandparents came1567here. They busted their ass to make a living and to do the1568right thing and to be responsible. They were good people. That1569is not what we are talking about here.1570 An aspect of all this that we have didn't even mention is1571how much this cost us. Who cares about the money when you think1572a human life. Even beyond that, some of these people we have to1573transport, we have to feed them, we have to house them, and we1574have to educate them. It is nothing against immigrants, and it1575is not trying to hurt anybody. They broke the law and some of1576them are Godawful. Those statistics that everybody has read1577today, they are real. It is not three or four. It is thousands1578and millions were let in our country. No country has ever1579prevailed in all world history when it just bleeds open like1580that.1581 This hearing, more importantly than the politics, liberal,1582conservative, Republican, and Democrat, I just wanted people to1583hear. I wish every American, I swear to God, so they didn't1584have to hear us, but I wish they could just hear you. It's why1585your job is so hard because you know what? Let me tell, truth1586be told, yes, we will do some news hits maybe. Mr. Schmidt will1587get interviewed or I will get interviewed or Jasmine will get1588interviewed. A lot of people aren't going to know what happened1589here today. They're not. You have to keep pushing, and you have1590to keep working. I want you to know, and I mean this, forget1591the BS politics. A lot of people love you for what you have1592done and the courage you have shown. You didn't have to do it.1593This is a pain coming here, and you really live that pain every1594single time you do it and you don't know who is telling you the1595truth and who is BS'ing you. There are people who care, and I1596pray to God that someday this works out and we don't keep doing1597this.1598 I thank you for that. I had a bunch of questions. I don't1599even have the time.1600 Mr. Romanucci. Mr. Chair, may I be recognized for 301601seconds?1602 Mr. Van Drew. Yes, you may.1603 Mr. Romanucci. Thank you so much. First, whether it was by1604intentional or by happenstance, I embrace the position where I1605am sitting. I hug Moms like you all the time, and I do feel1606your pain. I am fine with where I sit in my position.1607 Chair, you are powerful. When you asked us to stand and say1608the Pledge of Allegiance, we all followed you, and the last1609words that we said were liberty and justice for all. I am an1610advocate, and that is what I believe in, and I am asking this1611Congress, this Committee, to find a commonsense approach to1612immigration so that we don't have to do this again. You don't1613have to come back here in a year or 10 years. Ever. Thank you.1614 Ms. Heiling. Thirty seconds for me. Just to answer--1615 Mr. Van Drew. I probably broke--by the way, they are not1616laws. I probably broke all kinds of rules today, just so you1617know, and I don't care.1618 Ms. Heiling. When Ms. Crockett said she doesn't have1619children, so she doesn't know, we are not wired to process the1620type of tragedy that we are living. We are not. There are no1621words. I will tell you it does feel different when an illegal1622immigrant kills your children than it does an American because1623it was preventable. It feels different, not that I know that1624because I have had an American kill a child. When something is1625preventable and your life is ruined from something that is1626preventable, it does hit a little different than what I would1627imagine it would feel like just a regular casualty.1628 Loss, in itself, is so difficult, there is no words. Loss1629is loss. It is very tragic. What we are dealing with, when it1630is preventable, when these people have done something and they1631weren't asked to leave, if I were to go to Honduras where the1632woman who killed our children is from and I would kill two1633teenagers there, I am not getting any rights from the1634Hondurans. They are not giving me rights. It is different. This1635is preventable.1636 I say it does hit a little differently when our tragedy is1637preventable.1638 Mr. Van Drew. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Schmidt.1639 Mr. Schmidt. Thank you, Mr. Chair. In addition to our1640witnesses today, we have others who wish to be sure the1641Committee of the record know their stories. They were unable to1642testify, so I have some unanimous consent requests--1643 Mr. Van Drew. Without objection.1644 Mr. Schmidt. I would like to enter into the record a1645statement from Zoey Heiling, the sister of Brady Heiling. I1646would like to enter into the record a statement from Korri1647Heiling, the sister of Brady Heiling; a statement from John and1648Deborah Hosek, I believe, the grandparents; a statement from1649Agnes Gibboney, an Angel Mom; a statement from Joe Abraham, an1650Angel Parent.1651 Mr. Van Drew. Without objection.1652 Mr. Schmidt. Thank you. I yield back.1653 Mr. Van Drew. Thank you, Mr. Schmidt. That concludes--oh,1654I'm sorry.1655 Ms. Crockett. Sorry. One more UC. This is from the Houston1656Chronicle, ``Houston is not a city by the definition.'' This is1657from June 30, 2006. More specifically, just if you will indulge1658me for two seconds to actually read something that is actually1659a part of the article, it says that, ``Houston police are1660required to check the warrant status of everyone who is1661ticketed, arrested, or jailed . . . ''--1662 Mr. Gill. I don't think it is in order for you to be1663reading articles here.1664 Mr. Van Drew. We are going to give her leeway. Don't argue.1665Just finish.1666 Ms. Crockett. Because you know I'm ready to--OK. ``ICE1667officials are given full access to city jails . . . ''1668 Mr. Van Drew. Without objection, without objection.1669 Ms. Crockett. Thank you, Mr. Chair.1670 Mr. Van Drew. OK. That concludes today's hearing. We thank1671our witnesses for appearing before the Committee today. Without1672objection, all Members do have five legislative days to submit1673additional written questions for the witnesses or additional1674materials for the record.1675 Without objection, this hearing is adjourned.1676 [Whereupon, the above-entitled matter went off the record1677at 4:24 p.m.]16781679 All materials submitted for the record by Members of the1680Subcommittee on Oversight can be found at: https://1681docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=119166.16821683 [all]Witnesses
4 witnesses appeared, with 10 papers on file.
Documents
The committee filed 13 documents for the meeting.