We are calling for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Officers Everett Chase and Ronnet Sasse to be immediately suspended from all duties and activities as employees of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency
(ICE) until their actions of June 26, 2018 are fully investigated and all required remedial measures and retraining have been completed by the officers.

On June 26, 2018, Officers Chase and Sasse physically assaulted two attorneys and respected members of the Immigration Bar, Andrea Martinez and Megan Galicia. Ms. Martinez and Ms. Galicia were present at the Kansas City ERO office because they were surrendering their client, Noah, a 3-year-old child who was to be reunited, prior to removal, with his pregnant mother, Kenia. This was being done pursuant to a prior agreement with ERO Officer Chase and/or other officers at that
location. Ms. Martinez and Ms. Galicia were conducting themselves in accordance with their duties as attorneys representing their clients and according to the previously established agreement with ICE.

The officers physically assaulted the attorneys, knocking Ms. Martinez to the ground and causing her physical injuries that required immediate medical attention. It is difficult to imagine that these actions could be justified under any circumstance. The officers’ actions appear to be grossly out of line and call for immediate and significant discipline.

As egregious and disturbing as the actions of these officers were, what we find even more disturbing are the obvious implications for these officers’ interactions with unrepresented, fearful, and vulnerable immigrants with whom they interact on a daily basis.

While Ms. Martinez and Ms. Galicia have many resources available to them to seek redress, far too many individuals with whom these officers interact have no such resources. Many are unrepresented by counsel and therefore completely at the mercy of Officer Chase and Officer Sasse. These vulnerable immigrants should not be subjected to such potential abuse so long as the cloud of these officers’ egregious behavior is the subject of a DHS OIG investigation.

Accordingly, we believe that it is completely improper for either Officer Chase or Officer Sasse to be permitted to continue in their employment and the exercise of their duties as ERO officers unless and until their actions of June 26, 2018 are completely and thoroughly investigated and all disciplinary actions taken and all remedial requirements and retraining are completed by these officers, if they are allowed to continue in their employment as ERO officers at all.

Officer Chase and Officer Sasse should be immediately suspended, without pay, from any active duty until all appropriate investigations are completed.