A Massachusetts mother living in the United States for more than 20 years is now suing Immigration and Customs Enforcement after an encounter she says left her and her children physically injured and emotionally shaken. What should have been a routine day accompanying her brother-in-law to a court hearing, according to the lawsuit, quickly turned into chaos when ICE agents intervened.
Hilda Ramirez Sanan, a lawful permanent resident, had just arrived at the courthouse in Chelsea, Massachusetts in late September, when several unmarked vehicles suddenly surrounded them.
According to the complaint, agents shattered the front and rear windshields of the car and forcibly removed her from the vehicle without clearly identifying themselves or explaining why they were there. Her 13-year-old son, who is autistic, was also pulled from the car while visibly distressed.
One of the officers, seemingly unaware of her son’s autism and obvious distress, grilled him about his immigration status, threatening to deport him if he didn’t cooperate. Anyone with an ounce of humanity would see a child shaking with fear and comfort him, not shout at him.
Sanan was forced to the ground face-first as the officers twisted her arms behind her back to handcuff her. All in front of her children.
Keep in mind, that as this is happening, she had a green card and did nothing to warrant ICE agents breaking the car windows, showering her and her children with shards of glass, then pulling her and her 13-year-old son out of the car as if they were dangerous criminals.
Violent and Inhumane Treatment of Immigrants is Normalized
Emergency responders transported the Massachusetts mother and her children to a hospital. The lawsuit alleges the mother suffered a concussion and nerve damage, while her children were left traumatized by the incident. Attorneys for the family say no valid legal justification was presented at the time for the level of force used.
According to The Guardian, The lawsuit was brought on behalf of Ramirez Sanan, who is seeking $1m in damages, by advocacy group Lawyers for Civil Rights.
“The extreme and senseless cruelty invoked on longstanding Chelsea residents in the heart of their community should shock and alarm all of us,” said Jillian Lenson, senior attorney at Lawyers for Civil Rights.
“The ICE officers did not even identify themselves, let alone provide an explanation or warrant, before violently assaulting the family. The behavior was illegal, shameless, and inhumane. The family deserves justice. We will keep fighting for accountability and justice on behalf of immigrants and their families.”
ICE has not publicly commented on the lawsuit from this Massachusetts mother, but we at Resist Hate agree with immigration advocates who say the details of this case mirror countless other stories that rarely make national headlines.
Resist Hate is committed to expanding its mission statement to include a focus on stories like this in order to make the public aware of what’s happening in cities like New Orleans and how inhumane the treatment at some of these detention facilities is.
Amnesty International recently called Alligator Alcatraz out publicly for human rights violations. Detainees reported being shackled in metal cages in the swamp for days at a time. We reported over the Summer how detainees were being bitten by swarms of mosquitoes and not getting an opportunity to shower or brush their teeth.
Amnesty International Report
A Pattern, Not an Exception
What happened to this family is not being treated by advocates as a one-off mistake. For years, immigrant rights organizations, civil liberties groups, and disability advocates have documented patterns of aggressive enforcement tactics used by ICE, often in public spaces and without clear communication.
Across the country, families have described similar scenarios: unmarked vehicles, agents refusing to identify themselves, sudden physical force, and children left terrified in the aftermath. These encounters have happened outside homes, schools, courthouses, and workplaces, creating widespread fear that extends far beyond the individuals directly involved.
Legal residents, asylum seekers, and even U.S. citizens have reported being caught up in these actions. The result is a chilling effect. People avoid courts, hospitals, and social services, worried that simply showing up could put them in danger.
New Orleans’ economy is suffering with Border Patrol in the city conducting raids and asking people for “their papers.” Their presence has resulted in kids not attending school and employees not showing up to work out of fear. Even legal residents and U.S. citizens are staying in their homes to avoid the harassment and brutality of Greg Bovino and his gang of mask-wearing thugs.
The case of this Massachusetts mother and children is especially troubling because it involves a child with autism. Disability advocates have long warned that immigration enforcement agencies are not adequately trained to recognize or respond to neurodivergent individuals or people with medical vulnerabilities. When force is used without care or understanding, the consequences can be severe.
Critics also point to a lack of accountability. Internal investigations are often slow or opaque, and agents rarely face meaningful consequences even when serious injuries occur. Families are left to seek justice through costly, emotionally draining lawsuits just to have their experiences acknowledged.
That’s why this lawsuit matters beyond the courtroom. It adds to a growing body of cases challenging not just individual actions, but the broader culture and practices of immigration enforcement in the United States.
Why This Matters is a new feature for Resist Hate articles that are important to everyone in the anti-hate community. Look for it at the beginning of news stories that matter in a pro-democracy society.
We’re currently living through one of the most dangerous times for minorities and vulnerable groups in this country. We have a President ( and an entire political party) in power that sows division and stokes hatred by scapegoating groups like immigrants.
It’s a polarized environment like this where political violence and domestic terrorism is common.
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