Whelp, it was only a matter of time before these roving ICE patrols resulted in someone being shot. So it’s no surprise when a traffic stop in the Chicago suburb of Franklin Park turned deadly on Friday when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a man after a tense confrontation. Officials say agents attempted to arrest 22 year old Silverio Villegas Gonzales, who allegedly resisted and drove his car toward officers during the encounter.
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, one ICE agent was struck and dragged by the vehicle as Villegas Gonzales tried to flee. Fearing for his life, the officer fired his weapon. Villegas Gonzales was taken to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The injured agent sustained serious wounds but is reportedly in stable condition.
Authorities noted that Villegas Gonzales was undocumented and had prior charges tied to reckless driving. Franklin Park police stated they were not involved in the stop, which was led by federal agents.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker responded to the incident with a message on socials, writing, “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 shooting comes as immigration officials have been increasing enforcement activity across the Chicago area following new directives from the Trump administration. The community of Franklin Park, home to roughly 18,000 residents with nearly half identifying as Hispanic, is now at the center of a high profile case that has stirred debate over policing, immigration, and accountability.