A fatal encounter between an ICE officer and an illegal immigrant in a Chicago suburb intensifies the debate over federal intervention, as an alderman criticizes local leaders for refusing federal aid.
An illegal immigrant was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during a vehicle stop after he attempted to flee, striking and dragging an ICE officer with his car.
The incident occurred during a targeted law enforcement activity in Franklin Park.
According to a statement from ICE, the suspect, identified as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, resisted arrest and attempted to use his vehicle to drive into the arrest team.
An officer was struck and dragged, prompting him to fire his weapon, hitting the suspect. The man was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The officer sustained serious injuries but is reported to be in stable condition.
“Viral social media videos and activists encouraging illegal aliens to resist law enforcement not only spread misinformation, but also undermine public safety, the safety of our officers and those being apprehended,” the statements from both ICE and DHS said to local CBS.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker responded to the event on X, stating, “I am aware of the troubling incident that has unfolded in Franklin Park. 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.”
The fatal shooting comes amid a heated public debate over federal involvement in Chicago.
President Trump has repeatedly used social media to criticize the city’s crime rate and has warned that federal authorities are “coming.” Mayor Brandon Johnson, in turn, signed an executive order prohibiting Chicago police from cooperating with federal immigration agents.
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Amid this standoff, Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez has publicly broken with his party’s leaders, accusing Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson of prioritizing politics over public safety.
Speaking on “NewsNation Prime,” last week, Lopez argued that the leaders’ refusal of federal help—including an offer of the National Guard to combat crime—is politically motivated. He believes their “path to victory lies in standing up to Donald Trump.”
The conflict in Chicago is contrasted with a recent development in another city. President Trump announced he will send the National Guard to Memphis to address crime concerns there, a decision made with the support of the local mayor and governor. RELATED: Trump Announces Federal Deployment To Combat Memphis Crime Surge
While Chicago’s leaders point to a year-to-date decrease in homicides and violent crime, the city continues to face persistent violence. A Labor Day weekend in the city saw at least 58 people shot and 8 killed.
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