Marimar Martinez testifies on Capitol Hill after being shot by immigration agents

A Chicago woman shot by immigration agents in the Brighton Park neighborhood shared her experiences with members of Congress Tuesday.

Marimar Martinez testified Tuesday afternoon before a committee looking into allegations of excessive violence against immigration enforcement agents, recounting the day where she was shot five times in Chicago.

Martinez told lawmakers she was using her car horn to warn neighbors about an enforcement action in Brighton Park in October when a car driven by federal officers sideswiped her truck and cut her off.

She told members that she feared for her life and attempted to flee, and that’s when agents opened fire.

“As I continued to drive past the Border Patrol agents, I could hear my back passenger window shatter, and I felt bullets continue to pierce my body,” she said. “As I attempted to drive to a safe location, I began to feel lightheaded. I looked down and saw blood gushing out of my arms and legs and realized I had been shot multiple times.”

The Department of Homeland Security alleged that Martinez had initiated the crash and that agents had acted in fear for their safety when they opened fire.

A federal judge later dismissed charges against Martinez, casting doubt on the stories told by officers involved.

Martinez recounted the experience of being labeled “a domestic terrorist” by DHS officials.

“I had never even had a parking ticket before, and now I was in a federal detention center just for being the victim in a minor traffic accident,” he said. “Things were surreal.”

NBC Chicago reached out to DHS, who said in a statement that they “stand by our press releases and statements.”