JERUSALEM (JTA) — An African-American family from Kansas City living in Israel accused members of the immigration police unit of beating and verbally abusing them.
The family, who converted to Judaism several years ago, is waiting for a decision on their request to become citizens. They arrived in July to continue the proceedings.
Members of the Oz unit, charged with finding and expelling illegal foreign nationals, picked up Sean Garrett in Ashkelon on Tuesday and, after asking to see his identification, said he did not appear "in the system," Haaretz reported.
Garrett told Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post that he was beaten, handcuffed and called racial slurs. His wife, Kristien, who is seven months pregnant, his year-old daughter and his mother-in-law allegedly were hit during the arrest. Kristien Garrett was hospitalized after the incident.
Garrett was later released when it was determined that his visa was valid.
Members of the Oz unit say the family attacked them and not the other way around.
When the family tried to file a complaint against the officers, the Ashkelon Police Department reportedly refused to receive their complaint.
The Interior Ministry held a hearing on the family’s case last month. The family is awaiting a final decision on their citizenship request.
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