Virginia leaders cannot sit idle while ICE terrorizes Virginians outside hospitals

RICHMOND, Va. – In response to a video of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents assaulting Victor Perez Martin outside the Sentara Belle Harbour Hospital Emergency Room in Suffolk, Virginia, ACLU of Virginia Policy Director Chris Kaiser released the following statement:

“The brutality on display in footage of ICE agents beating Victor Perez Martin outside a Virginia hospital is sickening. Everyone – regardless of immigration status – should be safe to seek medical care, and nothing can justify what we see in that video. That’s why Virginia lawmakers introduced legislation that would have protected people at sensitive locations like healthcare facilities, because our state leaders have not only the authority but a duty to hold federal agents accountable when they wantonly violate Virginians’ civil rights and openly terrorize our most vulnerable residents.

“Even people who originally supported President Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda now say they disapprove of ICE’s vicious conduct, and it is unconscionable for the Commonwealth to allow federal agents to racially profile and assault Virginians. This problem isn’t going away: Virginia leaders must stand up to ICE now before anyone else is hurt.”