CHICAGO (RTW News) — Latino leaders expressed their outrage over recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Chicago that have included a fatal shooting during a traffic stop and the arrest of an immigrant at a local barbershop.
During an ICE operation on Friday, an officer fatally shot Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez when he attempted to evade arrest, resulting in significant community unrest.
In parallel, Willian Gimenez was detained in the Little Village neighborhood, a situation his lawyer suggests was in retaliation for Gimenez's involvement in a lawsuit against local authorities. Gimenez has a work permit and is currently seeking asylum, raising questions about the legality and ethos of ICE's actions.
“No one is above the law,” stated ICE, emphasizing that Gimenez has previous legal troubles. However, community leaders contend that these operations instill fear and do not reflect the values of justice. Representative Chuy Garcia criticized the operations, voicing concerns about targeting individuals based on their ethnicity.
Democratic officials, including Rep. Delia Ramirez, have called for thorough investigations into these incidents, as they reignite fears in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods, especially with the upcoming Mexican Independence Day celebrations.
The Department of Homeland Security's recent campaign, known as “Operation Midway Blitz,” aims at enforcing immigration laws against sanctuary policies supported by Illinois officials, heightening already fragile immigrant sentiments.
