Migrant killed during ICE operation in Chicago

An undocumented immigrant died Friday morning after being shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during a raid on the outskirts of Chicago, in a predominantly Latino neighborhood called Franklin Park. The deceased, identified as Silverio Villegas-González, was the target of the operation and was struck by a bullet while resisting arrest.

According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Villegas-González — described as having a history of “reckless driving” — refused to comply with the agents’ orders and attempted to flee in his vehicle, and drove toward them. During the incident, he dragged an ICE officer “a significant distance.” The officer, who suffered multiple injuries, fired fearing for his life. Villegas-González was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The injured officer was reported to be in a stable condition.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the actions of the injured officer, stating that he “followed his training, used appropriate force, and properly enforced the law to protect the public and law enforcement.” She also claimed that “viral social media videos and activists encouraging illegal aliens to resist law enforcement not only spread misinformation, but also undermine public safety, as well as the safety of our officers and those being apprehended.” DHS data indicates that attacks against ICE officers had risen by nearly 700% compared with 2024 as of last July.

Villegas-González’s death occurred amid Operation Midway Blitz, a crackdown on immigrants launched by the Trump administration in Illinois in September. According to the White House, the operation targets individuals without legal status who have serious criminal records and are evading ICE through local sanctuary laws, which limit local authorities’ obligation to cooperate with federal agencies in identifying, detaining, or transferring undocumented persons.

About six miles from the incident, a protest took place Friday morning outside an ICE processing center in Broadview. The demonstration began around 7:00 a.m. and organizers said it would last 12 hours. Protesters denounced what they described as unfair targeting of the immigrant community during the raids, and also raised concerns about the conditions in which detainees are held at the center.

During the protest, participants chanted slogans while attempting to block vehicles. Agents pushed back several people to clear the way. Multiple media outlets reported clashes between the two sides.

Immigrant rights organizations have warned that conducting large-scale operations in states with laws limiting cooperation with ICE could lead to abuses and situations in which detainees are not properly informed of their rights. They also argue that these operations create a climate of fear in local communities.

Federal authorities, meanwhile, maintain that such actions are necessary to protect public safety and prevent individuals with serious criminal histories from remaining free due to sanctuary policies. They also note that the situation is complicated by social media posts encouraging immigrants to resist law enforcement.

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