A migrant targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for arrest was shot and fatally wounded on Friday when he drove his car into officers during a traffic stop, leading one officer to fire his weapon, ICE officials told .
An ICE officer, part of the Enforcement Removal Operations unit, was hit and dragged by the driver’s vehicle as the suspect attempted to escape. This prompted the officer, fearing for his life, to shoot the man, who was wanted in a focused immigration enforcement effort in Chicago, according to an ICE spokesperson.
The traffic stop took place about 35 minutes northwest of Chicago on Friday, officials said.
After the incident, both the officer and the migrant, identified as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, received medical aid and were taken to a local hospital. Officials confirmed that Villegas-Gonzalez died at the hospital.
The officer, who suffered severe injuries, is reported to be in stable condition. Authorities stated that Villegas-Gonzalez ignored officers’ orders during the traffic stop before driving his car into the group of arresting officers.
“We are hoping for our law enforcement officer’s swift recovery,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement. “He acted according to his training, used due force, and rightly enforced the law to ensure public and officer safety.”
McLaughlin further noted: “Social media videos and activist rhetoric encouraging illegal immigrants to challenge law enforcement spread misinformation and compromise public safety, as well as the safety of our officers and those being apprehended.”
Officials said Villegas-Gonzalez has a history of reckless driving and entered the United States illegally at an unknown time and place.
“Operation Midway Blitz” was launched on Monday by Department of Homeland Security officials. On Wednesday, DHS officials confirmed to that 13 migrants who entered the United States illegally, who the federal agency considers “the worst of the worst,” had been arrested within the first three days of the operation.
Chicago has remained a target of ICE since President Donald Trump’s inauguration and was among the first cities visited by White House Border Czar Tom Homan. The Trump administration and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Prtizker have remained at odds over the presence of ICE.
reported that Chicago would be targeted by a multi-agency operation before DHS formally announced the campaign this week. confirmed that Border Patrol Commander-At-Large Gregory Bovino is running the campaign as he did the large-scale operation in Los Angeles earlier this year.
