Family files federal claim seeking damages for immigrant killed by ICE agent in Illinois

On Thursday, José Villegas González submitted a Federal Tort Claims Act complaint seeking monetary redress for the death of his brother, Silverio Villegas González, who was shot by an ICE agent during Operation Midway Blitz in Franklin Park. The filing, prepared by attorney Jonathan Manes of the MacArthur Justice Center, requests compensation for the victim’s vehicle, his suffering, and the family’s emotional and financial hardship, though no total amount was disclosed.

The suit alleges that two ICE officers provoked a hazardous encounter and fired when they could have moved away, violating DHS policy that forbids shooting at a fleeing driver. It also blames the Department of Homeland Security and ICE for insufficient training and supervision. The complaint relies on surveillance video, police body-camera footage, ambulance and autopsy records, and notes that the government declared the shooting justified before any investigation.

Federal prosecutors have declined to charge the officer, and the family has not received an incident report or the officers’ names. If the government does not resolve the claim within six months, the family may pursue a lawsuit.