Marimar Martinez sues federal government over Chicago Border Patrol shooting

What This is

• Marimar Martinez filed a federal lawsuit under the Federal Tort Claims Act over a shooting by Customs and Border Protection agent Charles Exum during an Oct. 4, 2025, immigration-enforcement operation in Chicago.
• Martinez, a U.S. citizen, says the agent fired into her vehicle from behind as she was driving away, and that the agent’s account about being in danger was false.
• Her lawyers say bullet-trajectory and crime-scene reconstruction work supports their claim that Exum was not in the path of the car when he fired.
• The lawsuit cites body-worn camera footage and messages that her lawyers say show agents encouraging aggressive behavior and praising the shooting.
• Prosecutors initially brought charges against Martinez but later dismissed the case, which her lawsuit cites as part of her false-arrest and malicious-prosecution claims.
• Her complaint seeks money damages from the federal government and alleges negligence and battery, and her attorneys are urging prosecutors to consider criminal charges against Exum.

Why This Matters

• The case could shape how much oversight federal immigration agents face when they use deadly force during enforcement operations.
• Because Martinez is a U.S. citizen, the case raises concerns that immigration operations can endanger residents who are not enforcement targets.
• Conflicting counts of shots and dueling forensic claims show how hard it is to settle disputed use-of-force events, even with video.
• If prosecutors do not file charges, civil lawsuits may become the main way to seek accountability for agent conduct.