Community Members Mark One-Year Anniversary of Silverio Villegas González's Killing by Immigration Enforcement, Express Lingering Fear
One year after Silverio Villegas González was fatally shot by an immigration enforcement agent during a traffic stop, community members in Franklin Park, Illinois, gathered to remember him and express ongoing fear. Marisela Sandoval, 42, noted that the threat facing their community has persisted since the incident. Hundreds attended events, including a tearful morning memorial and a protest in Melrose Park demanding an end to federal immigration enforcement in Illinois. Local leaders and immigrant rights advocates, such as the Rev. Brendan Curran, highlighted unanswered questions surrounding the case. Discrepancies have been noted between the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) initial claims—that an agent was seriously injured after being dragged by Villegas González's vehicle and that Villegas González had a criminal history—and later evidence. Body-worn camera footage showed the agent stating his injuries were 'nothing major,' and the Tribune found no criminal history for Villegas González, who had ...
