CHICAGO (AP) — Latino leaders expressed dismay Saturday over recent immigration enforcement operations in Chicago that resulted 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 who allegedly tried to evade arrest by driving his car at officers. The victim, identified as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, was pronounced dead at a hospital following the incident.
In conjunction with this event, Willian Gimenez was detained by ICE agents while at a barbershop in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. This move raised concerns among advocates who believe his arrest was retaliation for his involvement in a lawsuit against several parties over their treatment of immigrant workers. Gimenez's attorney claimed he possesses a work permit and is in the middle of an asylum application process.
The ICE stated that Gimenez was arrested for being in the country illegally, also citing his prior legal troubles, which had resulted in an immigration judge's order for his removal last year.
In a news conference, Rep. Chuy Garcia, a Democrat, highlighted the alarming nature of the incidents: These incidents make us all ask, if ICE can kill one of our neighbors in broad daylight ... if they can arrest someone for joining a lawsuit or simply for being Latino, what’s to stop them from getting any one of us? Garcia expressed deep concern for the safety of the local community amidst increasing enforcement activities.
The operations, which are part of the Department of Homeland Security’s take on sanctuary laws, have not only drawn scrutiny from policymakers but have also prompted community protests, with many citizens seeking a call for unity and thorough investigations into the use of force by ICE agents.
As cities prepare for upcoming events, such as the Mexican Independence Day celebrations on Sept. 16, there are heightened fears within immigrant-heavy neighborhoods concerning public safety and potential ICE actions. Governor JB Pritzker has been a vocal opponent of the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies, underscoring the contention between local and federal authorities.
