CHICAGO (AP) — Latino leaders expressed dismay Saturday over recent immigration enforcement operations in Chicago that resulted in a fatal shooting and unrest at several local facilities.
On Friday, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, who allegedly attempted to evade arrest by driving his vehicle at officers during a traffic stop.
Additionally, Willian Gimenez was arrested at a barbershop in the Little Village neighborhood, which his lawyer claims was retribution for his prior legal actions against several parties, including local officials.
ICE officials stated that Gimenez was detained for being in the country illegally, despite holding a work permit and seeking asylum.
During a heated news conference outside an ICE facility, Representative Chuy Garcia voiced concerns about the implications of these events, stating, If ICE can kill one of our neighbors in broad daylight ... what’s to stop them from getting any one of us?
Protests erupted surrounding these incidents, with demonstrators clashing with law enforcement at the Broadview facility. Advocates are calling for a thorough investigation into Villegas-Gonzalez's shooting and pushing for community solidarity against excessive immigration enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security's recent campaign, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, aims to target those defying sanctuary city laws in Illinois, further intensifying fears within immigrant communities.
