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U.S. citizens who have had violent encounters with federal immigration agents deployed in cities across the U.S. testified before Congress on Tuesday. Amid harrowing testimony by three victims and the brothers of Renee Good, congressional Democrats offered apologies and promises of accountability. Not a single Republican lawmaker showed up to the hearing.

Renee Good’s brothers Brent and Luke Ganger both testified at the hearing, with Brent Ganger calling Good “unapologetically hopeful.”

Marimar Martinez was shot multiple times by Border Patrol agents. “The mental scars will always be there as a reminder of the time my own government attempted to execute me — and when they failed, they chose to vilify me,” Martinez said.

Daniel Rascon described how federal immigration agents pointed rifles at him and shot at his car. “They shattered the windows, and in that moment the whole world felt like it was the size of the inside of our pickup, and we were sitting in harm’s way with nothing to do but record the horrifying experience,” he said.

Aliya Rahman was stopped by federal agents and violently pulled from her vehicle — despite telling the agents that she is disabled and has a traumatic brain injury. “I now cannot lift my arms normally,” said Rahman. “I was never asked for ID, never told I was under arrest, never read my rights and never charged with a crime.”

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman, with Nermeen Shaikh.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: We turn now to some of the powerful voices from Tuesday’s hearing on Capitol Hill on U.S. citizens who have experienced violent encounters with federal immigration agents deployed in cities across the U.S. Three U.S. citizens and the brothers of Renee Good shared harrowing testimony of their experiences, as congressional Democrats promised accountability. Not a single Republican lawmaker showed up to the hearing.

Renee Good’s brothers Brent and Luke Ganger both testified at the hearing, with Brent Ganger reading from his eulogy to his sister, saying Good was, quote, “unapologetically hopeful.” This is part of Luke’s testimony at Tuesday’s hearing.

LUKE GANGER: My name is Luke Ganger, and I’m here with my brother Brent. Renee Good is our sister. We’re here on behalf of Nee’s big family and those who loved her. We’re here to ask for your help.

I was talking to my 4-year-old last week when she noticed I was not doing well. I had to come here today and talk to some important people. She knows that her aunt died and that somebody caused it to happen. She told me that there are no bad people and that everyone mistakes. She has Nee’s spirit.

The deep distress our family feels because of Nee’s loss is — in such a violent and unnecessary way, is complicated by feelings of disbelief, distress and desperation for change. In the last few weeks, our family took some consolation, thinking that perhaps Nee’s death would bring about change in our country. And it has not. The completely surreal scenes taking place on the streets of Minneapolis are beyond explanation. This is not just a bad day or a rough week or isolated incidents. These encounters with federal agents are changing the community and changing many lives, including ours, forever.

AMY GOODMAN: That was Renee Good’s brother Luke Ganger testifying on Capitol Hill, followed by 30-year-old Marimar Martinez from Chicago. In her testimony, she described her near-fatal encounter with Border Patrol agents October 4th. She was on her way to church to drop off clothes for donation when she spotted a Border Patrol vehicle in........

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