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CHICAGO (WGN) In a surprising turn during Tuesday’s testimony, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem admitted to being unaware of significant details surrounding recent shootings by federal immigration agents in Chicago.
One notable incident involved the shooting of Marimar Martinez by federal agents in October 2025. Initially, DHS alleged that Martinez had assaulted the agents, but these accusations were later withdrawn.
Reflecting on her experience in November 2025, Martinez expressed her relief, stating, “I’m just blessed. I’m happy. God is good.”
Her ordeal has since become emblematic of the scrutiny facing many of DHS’s claims. Martinez attended the hearing on Tuesday, where her case was a focal point of the discussion.
During the session, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) questioned the incident, asking, “Wouldn’t you agree that shooting Marimar Martinez on her way to donate clothing at her church, a U.S. citizen from Chicago, is wrong?”
Her story became a national symbol of the way many of DHS’ claims fall apart under scrutiny. Martinez was in the hearing room on Tuesday when senators asked about her case.
“Wouldn’t you agree that shooting Marimar Martinez on her way to donate clothing at her church, a U.S. citizen from Chicago, is wrong?” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) asked.
“Sir, I don’t know the situation or the case. I’ll look into it,” Noem replied.
“Well, I’m glad you’ll look into it,” Blumenthal said.
Blumenthal then showed Noem text messages in which the agent said, “I fired five rounds and she had seven holes. Put that in your book, boys.” Blumenthal then asked Noem if she’d join him in condemning that agent.
Noem responded, “Sir, that situation, I don’t know the details of but I will look into that.”
Martinez’s attorney Christopher Parente reacted with disbelief, saying, “For the leader of DHS to not know about the shooting of a U.S. citizen, in our own country, by one of her agents is more alarming than her agency’s refusal to investigate these unlawful actions.”
Noem also claimed to not know anything about a case involving Lake View High School student Ofelia Torres, who was in the final stages of battling cancer when her father, who had been in the U.S. illegally for nearly 20 years, was arrested.
“Just to have them strip my dad away, it’s horrible,” Torres said at the time.
It took a judge’s order to release Torres’ father so they could be together before she died.
“How does taking a father from a child dying of cancer qualify? Where would that be? Is that a violent crime?” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) asked.
“I don’t know what you’re speaking of or referencing,” Noem replied.
Noem repeatedly insisted her agents simply follow laws passed by Congress.
“If you don’t like the law, I would suggest you change the law,” Noem said.
There are also signs some Republicans have lost confidence in Noem’s truthfulness.
“Those are bad decisions made in the heat of the money, not unlike what happened in Minneapolis,” U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) said. “We expect exceptional leadership and you’ve demonstrated anything but that!”
DHS has still not responded to requests for basic public records detailing agents’ decisions to use deadly force in Chicago and elsewhere. That’s information local police departments usually release within weeks.
Noem would only say all cases are being investigated.