US ICE Agent Kills Mexican National Amid Trump Crackdown
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed a Mexican national in the Chicago area on Friday during an arrest attempt, sparking outrage from community leaders and rights advocates.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed officers stopped a vehicle to detain Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, who allegedly drove his car toward them. DHS said an ICE officer fired after being dragged by the vehicle. The officer, who was not identified, was reported in stable condition.
The Mexican Consulate General in Chicago confirmed Villegas-Gonzalez’s identity, describing him as a 38-year-old cook from Mexico. The consulate said it had contacted his family and demanded answers from ICE.
The killing came just days after the Trump administration launched a sweeping immigration campaign in Illinois, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz. Critics say the initiative mirrors the aggressive policies of Trump’s previous term, escalating tensions in immigrant communities.
“We warned that ICE’s aggressive tactics and disregard for due process were a violent escalation,” US Representatives Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Delia Ramirez, and Illinois Representative Norma Hernandez said in a joint statement.
Illinois State Representative Lilian Jimenez condemned ICE’s actions, warning: “This endangers all of our community. Now we have seen the ultimate, horrific circumstances we feared — the loss of a community member’s life.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also called for transparency, insisting residents “deserve a full, factual accounting” of the killing, which occurred in the suburb of Franklin Park.
Despite mounting criticism, DHS defended the shooting, claiming “appropriate force” was used and alleging Villegas-Gonzalez had a record of reckless driving. Officials further accused immigrant-rights advocates of encouraging resistance to law enforcement, an assertion rejected by elected officials.
The killing has intensified opposition to Trump’s threats to deploy federal forces in Democratic-led cities. Protests have already spread across Chicago, with activists denouncing Washington’s militarized immigration drive.
On Friday, Trump said he would send National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, extending his campaign of heavy-handed enforcement beyond Illinois.
