CHICAGO — Latino leaders expressed their dismay on Saturday regarding a series of recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Chicago that culminated in a fatal shooting during a traffic stop and multiple arrests.
On Friday, an ICE officer shot and killed Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez after the 26-year-old attempted to evade arrest by driving at officers and dragging one of them with his car. Villegas-Gonzalez was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
On the same day, another immigrant, Willian Gimenez, was stopped in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood and detained by ICE agents amidst allegations that his arrest was retaliatory due to his ongoing lawsuit against several entities regarding accusations of racism and harassment towards immigrant workers.
Gimenez, whose attorney reported that he possesses a work permit and is in the process of seeking asylum, was detained for allegedly being in the country illegally. Immigration authorities have since maintained that he has a history of court attendance issues, having failed to appear in immigration court before.
In a statement, Rep. Chuy Garcia, a Democrat from Illinois, condemned the recent ICE actions, prompting community concerns about the implications for Latino residents. “If ICE can kill one of our neighbors in broad daylight, what’s to stop them from getting any one of us?” Garcia stated, highlighting the fear among local residents.
Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez joined calls for an investigation into Villegas-Gonzalez’s shooting and advocated for community unity over divisive enforcement practices. Protestors gathered at the ICE facility in Broadview, leading to clashes with law enforcement as tensions escalated following the incidents.
The Department of Homeland Security’s latest campaign, dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” focuses on undocumented individuals previously shielded under sanctuary policies and aims to target what they deem ‘criminal illegal aliens’ in Chicago.
As Mexican Independence Day approaches, immigrant communities are expressing trepidation and mistrust towards law enforcement, particularly with respect to how they may be impacted during upcoming celebrations.
