U.S. citizen injured by federal agents in Salem who demanded to see “papers,” union says
A woman who’s a U.S. citizen needed medical help Thursday, Jan. 29, after federal agents pulled her from her car after demanding to see her “papers,” one of the state’s largest unions said Saturday.
Service Employees International Union Local 503 said the woman, a union member, was driving to run errands when four agents stopped her on a Salem street. The agents identified themselves as federal law enforcement, according to the union’s statement.
The woman, identified only as Maria, is a home care worker who had been on her way to pay rent and pick up a cake for her grandson’s birthday, SEIU said. The union declined to give her last name, citing her privacy, and a union spokeswoman did not immediately respond to questions for more information Saturday.
Maria feared for her life during the incident, according to union statements, as she has severe asthma and worried about getting tear gassed.
The incident comes in the wake of increasing federal immigration enforcement around the country, with U.S. citizens also getting detained and physically assaulted. In October, ProPublica reported that at least 170 American citizens have been “dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.”
In the last month, immigration agents have shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.
It was not clear which federal agency the agents involved in the Salem incident on Thursday were from.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to questions about the incident or the agents. Federal agencies do not often respond to questions about local immigration enforcement.
It is the first confirmed report of a U.S. citizen being injured by federal agents in Salem since President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown began.
The Salem incident was first reported by Latinos Unidos Siempre, a local grassroots youth organization Thursday evening.
At around 11 a.m. Thursday, Maria was driving alone to take care of a rent payment and buy a cake for her grandson when she noticed she was being followed for several blocks by an unmarked vehicle that did not have a license plate, SEIU’s statement said.
Maria had been driving around northeast Salem, according to Latinos Unidos Siempre on social media.
The vehicle pulled in front of her and stopped, while another parked behind her. Three men and a woman exited the vehicles wearing vests saying “police,” and one “banged on her window, demanding that she show them “papers.” SEIU said.
“When Maria did not immediately respond, the agents shattered her car window, forcibly removed her from the vehicle and threw her to the ground, causing numerous injuries,” the statement said.
As she was on the ground, the agents dumped out her purse, found her U.S. passport and left the scene, according to SEIU.
“She had been carrying (her passport) because her daughter had told her to carry her passport everywhere she goes, advice her daughter learned at a Know Your Rights training,” a GoFundMe set up by SEIU for her said.
By Sunday morning, 206 donors had contributed nearly $12,000, the fundraising site showed.
Maria sustained a torn rotator cuff, concussion and bruised ribs during the incident and received medical treatment at a hospital, according to the GoFundMe.
“No one should be dragged from their car, injured and terrorized for who they are or where they come from,” Johnny Earl, president of SEIU Local 503 said in the statement. “Immigrant workers are the backbone of our communities and our economy, and they deserve dignity, safety and respect, not violence and fear. Labor will not be silent while workers are harmed. We demand accountability and answers.”
Maria contacted the Salem Police Department about the incident, but was told to contact the FBI since the incident involved federal agents, the union said.
The Salem Police Department did not immediately respond to questions about Maria’s report and what department policy is for handling incidents involving federal agents. A department spokesman reached by phone Saturday said he didn’t have more information immediately available.
Hundreds of people gathered Saturday afternoon along Northeast Center Street to protest the Trump administration’s increased immigration enforcement and the two recent killings by federal agents in Minnesota.
Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].
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Madeleine Moore joined Salem Reporter in 2024 and reports on a variety of topics including public safety, addiction, treatment and the criminal justice system. She came to Salem after graduating from the University of Oregon in June 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
23 Comments
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Stay home, wouldnt be an issue.
Is this sarcastic or are you really suggesting a US citizen should cower inside their home if they don’t want to be beaten in the street?
So … we should all stay home?
Jack, hopefully you’re kidding. If you aren’t, it sounds like you missed what Maria’s GoFundMe said about why she was driving in NE Salem when federal agents assaulted her:
“At the time that she was attacked, she was on an errand to pay her family’s rent and to pick up a small cake to celebrate her grandson’s 14th birthday. That child and his younger brother both have Huntington’s disease, a terminal degenerative brain disease. Our member is their main caregiver, and her daughter works full time. They had saved up to afford their rent and try to have a small birthday celebration and that is now gone.”
The federal agents need to be investigated by Salem police, since it sure seems that Maria was stopped in an unconstitutional manner, then was injured by the agents.
Understand that ICE goons have kidnapped citizens. They have kidnapped children from their schools. They have kidnapped people from work and from courts who are legally in the system. They have injured peaceful observers and protesters. They have killed two citizens and killed a third out of their jurisdiction. They are coming after all of us. They have broken our Constitutional laws.
.
No one should have to stay home for being who they are. She is a citizen and a union member and contributes to our community.
Who cares!
No mention in the story of her cooperation, or lack thereof, in the story. I wonder why.
Here you go. Reading is hard so I found it for you
The vehicle pulled in front of her and stopped, while another parked behind her. Three men and a woman exited the vehicles wearing vests saying “police,” and one “banged on her window, demanding that she show them “papers.” SEIU said.
“When Maria did not immediately respond, the agents shattered her car window, forcibly removed her from the vehicle and threw her to the ground, causing numerous injuries,” the statement said.
As she was on the ground, the agents dumped out her purse, found her U.S. passport and left the scene, according to SEIU.
The US Attorney’s Office and FBI should investigate and prosecute this Assault and Kidnapping.
Stopping people for Brown Skin and Black Hair is unlawful and unconstititional.
It would be so amazing and JUSTIFIED if our media would start upholding their obligations, their responsibilities and reporting both sides of every story
Fellow Salem Reporter readers, please ignore clearly idiotic and inflammatory comments regarding these articles. What happened to this poor woman was horrible and reprehensible. No one deserves to be treated like that. Unfortunately, we have plenty of Trumpers and MAGA white supremacists here amongst us. However, there are more of us who believe in the dignity of all people, that immigrants are the foundation of this country, that people who look different than us should be celebrated and supported, not denigrated. Turn the other cheek with these silly comments. Ignore idiocy and prepare for the next protest rally on March 28, 2025. There are more of us then them….and they know it. I’ll see you on the picket line. 🙂
I would love it if you could get Nordyke, Hoy, and city council members and candidates on the record regarding how they will instruct Salem PD to handle these abusive federal agents.
If any police officer, (city county or state) observes a federal officer violating someone’s rights, especially using excessive force, the officer is required to intervene.
Salem Police CAN NOT take any action concerning Federal Agents. If they tried to intercede they would be subject to arrest by Federal authorities.
A local or state police officer has an affirmative, legally recognized duty to intervene if they observe a federal officer (or any law enforcement officer) violating a person’s constitutional rights, such as using excessive force or conducting an unlawful arrest. This obligation exists when the officer has a realistic opportunity to prevent the harm. An officer is generally required to act even if the violating officer is from a different agency, such as a federal one, provided they are present at the scene and have the opportunity to act.
This entire story is based on hearsay. No last name, vague location, lack of collaborating evidence. I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but you can’t just go on “the union’s” word. Surely your journalism professors taught you better than that.
Next time you’ll be reporting on the trip someone took on a magic spaceship but don’t worry–the union verified it so it must be true.
I agree, Salem PD needs to defend everyone against assault. The council should step up and address the abuse, or step down and make room for someone who will. Being out and protesting on March 28 (or this Saturday) is a good response for citizens for now. See you there.
I hope the Salem Reporter continues to follow up with the Salem Police Department. It is very important for us to know what police policy is for taking and acting on reports such as these.
I totally disagree with the Tactics of BCP and ICE. However I do belive all illegal aliens should return to their Home Countries. I understand this means farming, construction, Meat Factories, Travel, etc would collapse.
I believe the same for undocumented aliens.
By the way there is a difference between illegal and undocumented aliens.
City response:
https://www.cityofsalem.net/Home/Components/News/News/1887/15
[…] Agents are killing in the street and lying about the circumstances, as we know, but their brutality, intimidation, and lawlessness extends much further: https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/01/31/u-s-citizen-injured-by-federal-agents-in-salem-who-demanded… […]