CHICAGO (PulseWire.News) — Latino leaders expressed dismay Saturday over recent immigration enforcement operations in Chicago resulting in a fatal shooting during a traffic stop, the arrest of an immigrant at a barbershop, and a tense standoff between protesters and agents at an immigration processing facility.
An Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot a man trying to evade arrest by driving towards officers and dragging one of them, officials confirmed. The man, Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
In a related incident, Willian Gimenez was detained by ICE agents while driving in the city's Little Village neighborhood. Gimenez's attorney claimed his arrest was retaliation for his lawsuit against local leaders and others regarding immigrant workers’ rights. Gimenez possesses a work permit and is pursuing an asylum claim.
ICE stated that Gimenez was arrested for being in the country illegally, noting his history of not attending court dates, including one that resulted in a removal order.
Rep. Chuy Garcia expressed alarm about the incident, emphasizing that the use of deadly force raises questions about ICE's authority and the safety of the community: “If ICE can kill one of our neighbors in broad daylight, what’s to stop them from getting any one of us?”
The protest following these incidents culminated in clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement at the ICE facility. Garcia and fellow Rep. Delia Ramirez are demanding an investigation into the incidents while calling for community solidarity.
Additionally, local concerns have escalated regarding celebrations for Mexican Independence Day amid fears of further ICE operations, as the Department of Homeland Security's 'Operation Midway Blitz' targets sanctuary laws in Illinois.
