CHICAGO (WLS) — In response to a worrying increase in deaths among Mexican nationals during U.S. immigration enforcement operations, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and her administration are advocating for actions beyond mere diplomacy.
Highlighting the deaths of 17 Mexican citizens linked to immigration enforcement in the U.S., officials intend to pursue legal action against those deemed responsible.
While the names of the deceased remain undisclosed, the ABC7 I-Team has uncovered that one of these tragic incidents occurred in Illinois. Silverio Villegas-Gonzales lost his life after being shot by an ICE agent during a raid known as Operation Midway Blitz in Franklin Park last September.
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An ICE officer fired upon Villegas-Gonzalez, claiming the action was a defensive measure after he alleged Villegas-Gonzalez ignored commands and threatened officers with his vehicle. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the officer sustained serious injuries, prompting him to discharge his weapon in self-defense, resulting in Villegas-Gonzalez’s death.
However, in body camera footage secured by the I-Team, the agent who discharged his firearm indicated that his injuries were not severe.
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The scene 10 months ago in Franklin Park is eerily reminiscent of the latest ICE shooting death of a Mexican national in Houston, Texas, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. ICE initially claiming Salgado Araujo was part of a targeted enforcement operation and rammed his car into an ICE vehicle, refusing commands to stop before he was shot. They later claimed he was not the target of any enforcement operation.
The government of Mexico told ABC News it sent 11 diplomatic notes to the U.S. regarding the deaths of Mexican citizens. In addition to new legal avenues, they plan to contact the UN Human Rights commission over deaths related to immigration enforcement.
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