Chicago, Illinois — A Chicago woman who survived being shot five times by a Border Patrol agent during a federal immigration operation last fall is asking a judge to lift restrictions preventing her from sharing evidence she says contradicts the government’s public narrative about the incident.
Marimar Martinez was critically wounded on Oct. 4 during Operation Midway Blitz, a large-scale immigration enforcement campaign in Chicago. Federal prosecutors initially charged her with assault but later dropped the case. Despite being cleared, Martinez remains labeled a “domestic terrorist” on Department of Homeland Security materials, according to her attorney, Chris Parente.
Parente argued in court filings that a standard protective order—typically used to safeguard evidence in criminal cases—now prevents Martinez from countering what he described as an ongoing misinformation campaign by the Trump administration. The order bars her from releasing body-camera footage, text messages, and other records, even as senior officials publicly characterize victims of recent immigration-related shootings as terrorists.
Parente said the government’s claims have spread widely, even appearing in a dissent by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito related to federal authority to deploy National Guard troops. He argued that courts have the authority to allow disclosure in order to correct the public record.
The Chicago Sun-Times and other outlets are separately seeking access to the same evidence. Federal prosecutors have not yet said whether they will oppose modifying the order.
Martinez, who has no pending charges or convictions, is among dozens swept up in Operation Midway Blitz, many of whom were later cleared. Her request now places renewed scrutiny on how federal agencies handle and publicly describe use-of-force incidents involving immigration officers.
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