A federal immigration agent described his injuries as “nothing major” in body camera footage showing the moments after he fatally shot Mexican immigrant Silverio Villegas González during a traffic stop in Franklin Park, Illinois, on Sept. 12.
Trump administration officials had earlier claimed the officer suffered serious injuries after being dragged by Villegas González, who allegedly tried to evade arrest. DHS said Villegas González drove at officers, prompting one to open fire. ICE agents were reportedly not wearing body cameras at the time of the shooting.
The Franklin Park Police Department released video showing a local officer arriving at the crash site where Villegas González’s car had hit a cargo truck. In the footage, ICE agents explain the incident to police. One agent said he was “dragged a little bit,” but described his injuries—left knee pain and hand lacerations—as minor.
Federal officials, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, had previously described the agent’s injuries as serious. Marcos Charles, acting head of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, said the force used was appropriate but declined further comment due to an ongoing investigation.
Villegas González, 38, worked as a cook and had just dropped off one of his children at day care the morning of the shooting. The Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago said it will closely monitor the investigation. Community members described him as a kind father, and vigils were held in his memory.
The incident has drawn calls for transparency from immigrant rights advocates, Illinois officials, and Mexico’s president. U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia said, “The family is entitled to answers. The community wants to know what is going on, and the public deserves answers as well.”
ICE operations in Chicago have drawn comparisons to other recent Trump-era immigration crackdowns, which have resulted in fatalities during attempts to evade law enforcement.
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