A Massachusetts mother is suing the federal government, alleging ICE agents violently detained her near Chelsea District Court in front of her two children.
Hilda Ramirez Sanan, a lawful permanent resident, says agents shattered her car windows, pulled her out, and forced her to the ground.
DHS disputes the family’s account and says agents used proportionate force while targeting another man in the vehicle.
Chelsea mother with legal status claims ICE agents violently attacked
her in front of her children. Now she's suing the agency.
New right now at six. She's telling us about that traumatizing event.
Boston 25's Amel Elhel joining us live in the studio.
Amel, the family says the agents ignored repeated attempts
to explain their legal status and her son's disability.
That's right. And a year after
that encounter outside of Chelsea District Court,
Hilda Ramirez-Sinan is now taking the federal government to court.
She described it as a violent and chaotic encounter,
one that has left her family with lasting trauma,
though ICE tells us their actions were necessary.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry!
This video shows the moments after masked
federal immigration agents surround Hilda
Ramirez-Sinan's car, shattering the windows,
pulling her out, and forcing her to the ground,
at one point losing consciousness, she says.
Born in Guatemala, Hilda tells me she moved
to the States 25 years ago
and has raised her family here as a lawful permanent resident.
She sat down with me, recounting the traumatic encounter,
speaking in Spanish with her daughter
helping translate her story.
At some point I lost conscience
and I felt like I was drowning.
During the encounter, she says she was speaking
to ICE agents trying to explain her family
situation, including that her 13-year-old son had autism.
I was just looking out for my son because I could see
that they were pulling him to the side.
They were yelling at him, they were asking him things,
and he doesn't know what danger is.
So I was fearful for his life and what they were going to do to him
or if he was going to try to run away, what was going to happen to him.
She says her son was removed from the car
as her daughter Michelle ran to them watching
as agents restrained her mother and brother.
And I was fearful for both of them because...
When I was on the floor, I could just hear the screaming,
the yelling around me, and I couldn't see anything.
I didn't know what was happening.
The family says Chelsea police intervened and requested
an identification check, and afterwards, the family was released.
Yes, I'm very grateful that our local police
was there to help us, to free us,
because if they would have not gotten there in time,
I don't know what would have happened.
Now she and her children are suing the federal government,
alleging unlawful detention, assault, and emotional harm.
She tells me this encounter has haunted her for the last year.
I go to sleep and I wake up screaming sometimes from nightmares.
They're coming here and treating our community.
Like we are animals, so with this I hope that the system changes,
that the justice is made
for people who have gone through many things like me.
Now we did reach out to DHS for a comment
in a statement they say officers were trying to arrest someone else
in the car and defended their use of force saying it was necessary
and those in the car refused to comply.
Hilda's attorneys responded saying the case is about ICE's treatment
of Hilda and said the video evidence refutes ICE's attempt to defend
their actions. This case was filed in federal court yesterday.
Attorneys are now waiting for the government to respond to the lawsuit.
In studio, Amal Al-Halb for your local station, Boston 25 News.
