ICE Agents Injure US Citizen in Suburban Chicago Mistake
Immigration agents mistook a U.S. citizen for a fugitive and attempted to arrest him, leaving him injured and sparking an investigation.
A U.S. citizen was injured in Evanston, Illinois, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents mistook him for a fugitive and attempted to arrest him. The incident occurred on Sunday, according to the Evanston Police Department.
The man, whose identity has not been released, sustained injuries to his head, neck, and teeth, and was taken to St. Francis Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He was walking to a pharmacy to pick up a prescription when the encounter began.
According to a federal agent who spoke to responding Evanston police officers, five ICE agents in separate vehicles were searching for a fugitive with a Chicago address and an active warrant for his arrest. The agents believed the man they encountered was this fugitive. When the man refused to provide identification, agents attempted to handcuff him. Upon realizing he was a U.S. citizen, they released him.
An Evanston police officer observed blood on an agent’s hands, who stated he was injured while trying to detain the man. The agents left the scene shortly after, citing fears of a gathering crowd potentially attacking them.
Witnesses described the man being pinned to the ground by agents. Ryan Garton, 56, who stopped to record the incident, stated that one agent had a knee on the man's back and was