An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a person who resisted arrest and dragged the officer during a car stop in a Chicago suburb Friday morning, in accordance with the Department of Homeland Security.
The man, Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, was an undocumented immigrant, in accordance with DHS. The officer, whose identify was not instantly launched, sustained extreme accidents however is in secure situation, a Homeland Security official informed NCS.
The incident occurred during a car stop in Franklin Park, a neighborhood about 20 miles west of downtown Chicago. Villegas-Gonzalez drove his automotive at legislation enforcement officers, hitting one among them and dragging that officer a “significant distance,” in accordance with DHS.
“We are praying for the speedy recovery of our law enforcement officer. He followed his training, used appropriate force, and properly enforced the law to protect the public and law enforcement,” Tricia McLaughlin, Homeland Security assistant secretary, stated in a information launch.
“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,” she stated.
Immigration enforcement operations have been ramping up in the Chicago area over latest days, marking one of many newest escalations between the Trump administration and Democratic-led cities that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
This week, the administration announced “Operation Midway Blitz,” which Homeland Security officers have described as supposed to focus on undocumented immigrants in Illinois with prison data. So far, they are saying, the operation has led to the arrests of undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes, together with assault and driving underneath the affect.
Villegas-Gonzalez was a 38-year-old Mexican nationwide who labored as a prepare dinner, in accordance with the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago. He was initially from the Mexican state of Michoacán, the statement stated.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is “aware of the troubling incident that has unfolded in Franklin Park,” he stated in a Facebook post.
“This is a developing situation and the people of Illinois deserve a full, factual accounting of what’s happened today to ensure transparency and accountability,” Pritzker stated in the put up.
The Franklin Police Department referred inquiries to the FBI. An FBI Chicago spokesperson informed NCS in a press release, “The FBI is aware of the incident in Franklin Park and is assisting law enforcement in response. There is no threat to public safety.”
FBI brokers had been processing the scene on Friday afternoon, a NCS crew noticed.
State Rep. Norma Hernandez, who represents the district the place the incident occurred, informed NCS affiliate WLS she believes ICE’s increasingly aggressive tactics are “bringing more fear into the communities.”
“The Trump administration declared war on American communities here in the state of Illinois and this is what this looks like – to kill innocent people, to ruin families and to break away families. We are not having this,” Hernandez stated at a information convention on Friday.
The Mexican consulate stated it has requested info from ICE in regards to the occasions that led to Villegas-Gonzalez’s deadly capturing.
“The Government of Mexico will continue to assist the family in every way necessary and will closely monitor the investigation process related to the incident,” it stated.
This story has been up to date with extra info.
NCS’s Bill Kirkos and Caroll Alvarado contributed to this report.