Man Shot Twice by ICE During Arrest Pleads Guilty, Faces Deportation While Still in Custody

Tiago Sousa-Martins’ encounter with ICE last Christmas Eve in Glen Burnie, Maryland, ended with him being shot twice and now facing deportation after pleading guilty to a federal charge of destruction of government property. The 30-year-old father was not the original target of ICE officers who had run his license plate and discovered he overstayed a visa from 2008. What followed was a violent arrest in which Sousa-Martins was shot 13 times, suffering wounds to his leg and back.

According to FBI and court records, officers claimed Sousa-Martins resisted arrest, damaged government vehicles, and tried to drive away. But the use of lethal force against him remains deeply contested. Sousa-Martins’ attorney, Alice Barrett of CASA, called the shooting “excessive and dangerous,” emphasizing that the plea deal and sentencing to time served do not change the fundamental injustice of ICE’s actions.

Sousa-Martins remains in ICE custody, battling serious medical issues stemming from his injuries. His family has raised alarms about inadequate medical care, with his partner describing his ongoing inability to breathe properly and his weakness preventing him from hugging their young children. Despite these concerns, the Department of Homeland Security insists he received necessary medical treatment and has filed an expedited order of removal.

This case exposes the harsh reality of ICE’s enforcement under the Trump administration’s “break the law, face the consequences” approach. It also highlights the brutal conditions and lack of oversight in detention facilities where detainees like Sousa-Martins suffer serious harm with limited recourse. As Sousa-Martins’ legal team fights to keep him in the U.S., his story underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform in immigration enforcement practices.