Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston
Federal agents mistakenly detained an Evanston resident who later reported injuries. A witness and advocates criticized the force used, while an involved agent alleged resistance and local police opened an investigation.
BackgroundWhen can federal immigration agents use deadly force?
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Was the force used during the mistaken detention justified? Police documented injuries and opened an investigation. The fugitive, identification-refusal and resistance claims come from an involved agent. The federal agency and alleged strike remain unresolved in the reviewed sources. Police account (opens in a new tab); witness account (opens in a new tab).
Background: When can federal immigration agents use deadly force?
People in this case
Daniel BissCommented
Jan SchakowskyCommented
Timeline
6 timeline entries on this page. Dates: September 20, 2026 to October 4, 2026
September 2026
Witness describes restraint and paperwork left at scene
Claim
Witness Ryan Garton told Evanston Now the man was walking to a CVS pharmacy, a day after a hospital emergency-room visit, when agents approached him. Garton said he saw an agent's knee pushed against the man's back, blood on the man's shirt and an agent's knuckles, and that agents set the man's hospital paperwork on the curb before driving off.
[01]Victim in ICE stop was walking to pharmacy, witness says
Evanston Now interviews witness Ryan Garton, who describes an agent's knee on the man's back, blood on the man's shirt and an agent's knuckles, and hospital pharmacy paperwork left on the curb; Garton disputes the agent's account, as relayed by police, saying it looked like the agents randomly targeted the man.
Victim in ICE stop was walking to pharmacy, witness saysParagraphs quoting witness Ryan Garton on the knee, blood, hospital paperwork left on the curb, and his 'randomly targeted' characterizationCellphone video and witness account capture man asserting citizenship
Reaction
Cellphone video obtained by CNN captured the still-unidentified detained man saying, "I'm a f**king US citizen," during the restraint. Miguel Angel Olivares told CNN affiliate WLS the man was shaken and largely unable to speak afterward, repeating only that he was a U.S. citizen and did not know why he had been targeted.
[02]I'm a f**king US citizen: Man left injured after ICE mistakenly detained him, officials say
CNN Newssource (via KRDO) describes cellphone video in which the detained man is heard saying he is a U.S. citizen, and quotes Miguel Olivares's interview with WLS describing the man as shaken and largely unable to speak afterward.
I'm a f**king US citizen: Man left injured after ICE mistakenly detained him, officials sayParagraph describing the cellphone video audio of the detained man; paragraphs quoting Miguel Olivares's interview with CNN affiliate WLSEvanston police respond to reported detention
Incident
Police found the resident receiving help and requested an ambulance after he reported injuries.
[03]Evanston Police Department
Police release separating officers’ observations from an involved federal agent’s account; it announces an ongoing investigation.
Evanston Police Conduct Follow-Up on Incident Involving Federal Agents · Evanston Police DepartmentSeptember 20, 2026 bulletin; body paragraphs 1–6Police release their initial account
Source release
The department described the mistaken detention, attributed the agent’s account and announced further evidence collection.
[03]Evanston Police Department
Police release separating officers’ observations from an involved federal agent’s account; it announces an ongoing investigation.
Evanston Police Conduct Follow-Up on Incident Involving Federal Agents · Evanston Police DepartmentSeptember 20, 2026 bulletin; body paragraphs 1–6Mayor’s hospital-treatment and investigation update reported
Source release
FOX 32 reported that Mayor Daniel Biss said the resident received hospital treatment and police continued investigating.
[04]Video shows encounter between federal agents, man in Evanston
FOX 32 attributes the hospital-treatment description and investigation update to Mayor Daniel Biss’s post on X.
Video shows encounter between federal agents, man in EvanstonFeds in Evanston section; Mayor Daniel Biss’s hospital-treatment and investigation remarks
October 2026
Evanston Now publishes findings from 911 audio and police records obtained through FOIA
Source release
Evanston Now published findings from a 911 call, police reports and body-camera recordings it obtained concerning the September 20 detention. The article identified ICE supervisor Esteban Rivas and reported his acknowledgment that agents had stopped the wrong person. It also described officers' and a paramedic's responses after the agents left.
[05]Evanston Now publishes 911-call and police-record findings from the September 20 detention
Evanston Now's October 4 article describes records it obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, including the 911 call, police reports and body-camera recordings from the September 20 detention. It identifies ICE supervisor Esteban Rivas through the police reports and attributes the mistaken-identification account to him. October 4 is the article's publication date; the date the records were furnished is not specified.
Evanston Now publishes 911-call and police-record findings from the September 20 detentionOpening paragraphs describing the FOIA-obtained 911 call; section 'EPD officer lost for words after agents left scene'; paragraphs identifying Esteban Rivas and describing three body-camera recordings.
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
In an interview reported on September 21, Miguel Angel Olivares said it appeared that an agent struck the resident in the face during the restraint. The interview date was not specified.
Sources (1)
- Police investigating after federal agents detain wrong man in EvanstonOlivares interview following the description of his phone recording; Nathan Ryan interview near article end
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
10 responses. First 6 shown initially. Newest first.
U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementAgency spokesperson responding by email to The Daily NorthwesternBefore this statement
The Daily asked ICE to confirm the identity of an officer named in Evanston police records concerning the September 20 detention.
"never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers."
Explicitly stayed outCase context: Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston
Full statement and sources
An ICE spokesperson declined to confirm Esteban Rivas' identity when The Daily Northwestern asked on October 5. The spokesperson said publicizing officers' identities endangered them and their families.
After the statement
The Daily published the response October 6 and described police records identifying Rivas. Monday was October 5; the email time was not reported.
ICE declines to confirm officer identity in Evanston detentionFinal two reporting paragraphs, beginning 'On Monday, The Daily asked ICE to confirm Rivas' identity', and the following spokesperson response.Why this label?
The spokesperson expressly declines to confirm or deny the identity inquiry. This response concerns officer identification, not the legality of the detention.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityDHS spokesperson, in an emailed statement to Evanston NowBefore this statement
Days after video of the restraint circulated and Evanston police opened an investigation, DHS issued its first substantive on-record defense of the stop in a Tuesday morning statement to Evanston Now, after not immediately responding to earlier requests for comment. DHS said the man was given lawful commands but was "not cooperative and refused to identify himself," and that ICE officers "relied on their training and later left the scene without further incident once the individual finally identified himself."
"has authority for lawful arrests where authorized under 8 USC 1357." "Law enforcement officers use ‘reasonable suspicion’ to investigate immigration status and probable cause to make arrests consistent with the statute and the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court has already vindicated us on these practices."
Defended or excusedCase context: Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston
Full statement and sources
DHS said the man was given lawful commands but was uncooperative and refused to identify himself, said ICE officers relied on their training and left once he identified himself, and cited 8 USC 1357 and reasonable-suspicion authority for the stop.
After the statement
DHS also said ICE agents had encountered someone who resembled a target during a targeted enforcement operation in Evanston. The statement did not address the injuries the man reported or apologize for the detention.
DHS says Sunday incident was due to man not identifying himselfParagraphs reporting DHS's emailed statement on lawful commands, non-cooperation, ICE training, and 8 USC 1357/reasonable-suspicion authorityWhy this label?
DHS attributes the confrontation to the detained man's own non-cooperation, frames the agents' conduct as trained and proper, and invokes statutory and case-law authority for the stop. This defends and excuses the agents' actions rather than acknowledging fault.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Daniel BissMayor of Evanston, speaking to Evanston RoundTableBefore this statement
Biss made the remarks Tuesday afternoon, as Evanston RoundTable explained the legal standard DHS invoked for the stop.
"DHS has repeatedly lied about their violent tactics in Chicagoland and nationally. They have no credibility whatsoever."
CondemnedCase context: Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston
Full statement and sources
Mayor Daniel Biss said DHS has repeatedly lied about its violent tactics and has no credibility.
After the statement
The remarks were distinct from Biss's earlier statement on the mayor's hospital-treatment and investigation update, which had been more measured in tone.
Kavanaugh stop incident in EvanstonParagraph quoting Mayor Daniel Biss's Tuesday afternoon remarksWhy this label?
Biss directly accuses DHS of repeated dishonesty about its tactics and says it has no credibility. This is a strong condemnation of the agency's conduct and truthfulness, beyond his earlier, more neutral statement about the incident.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sanctuary EvanstonOrganization speaking through its official Instagram accountDirectly involved Before this statement
The statement identified the incident as taking place the previous morning in South Evanston and described the agents’ ICE affiliation as suspected.
"Sanctuary Evanston strongly condemns a violent assault on a community member by suspected Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents"
CondemnedCase context: Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston
Full statement and sources
Sanctuary Evanston condemned the force and called for investigation, transparency and accountability.
After the statement
It called on the Cook County State’s Attorney, local elected officials and city leadership to investigate and explain the Evanston Police Department’s interaction with the agents.
Sanctuary Evanston condemns September 20 detention and calls for investigation · Sanctuary EvanstonInstagram caption posted September 21, 2026Why this label?
Relative to the force used during the Evanston detention, the organization explicitly condemns the conduct. Its description of the agency as suspected preserves uncertainty about ICE affiliation.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Ryan GartonEyewitness, in an interview with Evanston Now Before this statement
Evanston Now reported that police said the agents later determined the man was not the person they were seeking and had learned he was a U.S. citizen.
"It looked like they randomly targeted the guy and said, 'Let's take this one.'"
Challenged the characterizationCase context: Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston
Full statement and sources
Witness Ryan Garton disputed the account that agents mistook the man for a specific target, saying it looked like they randomly selected him.
After the statement
Garton said he and other bystanders began yelling at the agents to leave the man alone, and the agents eventually got into their cars and drove off.
Victim in ICE stop was walking to pharmacy, witness saysParagraphs quoting witness Ryan Garton on the knee, blood, hospital paperwork left on the curb, and his 'randomly targeted' characterizationWhy this label?
Garton offers his own impression that the agents picked the man at random, directly disputing the official account that they mistook him for a specific fugitive suspect. This challenges the characterization of why the stop happened rather than condemning or excusing the force used.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Miguel Angel OlivaresWitness interviewed by NBC ChicagoDirectly involved Before this statement
In an interview published by NBC on September 21, Olivares described recording the restraint and said the force was rough. The interview date was not specified.
"I did want to go over there and tell them to leave him alone"
CondemnedResponding to: In an interview reported on September 21, Miguel Angel Olivares said it appeared that an agent struck the resident in the face during the restraint. The interview date was not specified.
Full statement and sources
Olivares criticized the agents’ force and said he wanted them to stop restraining the man.
After the statement
Olivares explained that he feared approaching the agents himself. He also described witnesses seeking help for the man.
Evanston man hurt after federal agents mistakenly targeted him, police sayInterview passages attributed to Miguel Angel Olivares and Brandon LeeWhy this label?
Relative to the force used during the mistaken detention, Olivares expresses disapproval and says he wanted the agents to leave the man alone. This is criticism of the conduct, beyond a description of events.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Show fewer responses
Nathan RyanSanctuary Evanston advocate interviewed by ABC7 ChicagoDirectly involved Before this statement
In its September 21 report, ABC7 introduced Ryan’s demand for accountability and investigation into both the force and mistaken detention. The interview date was not specified.
"federal agents beating up people on the street without repercussions"
CondemnedCase context: Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston
Full statement and sources
Ryan criticized the force and warned against allowing it to go without accountability.
After the statement
The article then reported the police chief’s hospital visit. The Sun-Times separately quoted Ryan criticizing violence and lack of accountability.
Police investigating after federal agents detain wrong man in EvanstonOlivares interview following the description of his phone recording; Nathan Ryan interview near article endEvanston man, a U.S. citizen, injured in Sunday confrontation with U.S. immigration officersNathan Ryan interview and joint Sanctuary Evanston–ICIRR statement; paragraphs following hospital contactWhy this label?
Relative to the agents’ force during the mistaken detention, Ryan condemns the conduct and the prospect of impunity. His criticism addresses the treatment itself, not only the need for an investigation.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Brandon LeeICIRR communications director interviewed by NBC ChicagoDirectly involved Before this statement
In its September 21 report, NBC introduced Lee’s comments as his response to the Evanston incident and a broader pattern of brutality. The interview date was not specified.
"they are willing to attack someone"
CondemnedCase context: Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston
Full statement and sources
Lee condemned the Evanston incident as part of a broader pattern of violent federal enforcement.
After the statement
Lee said citizenship did not prevent violent treatment. The report then discussed enforcement trends and concerns about immigration court appearances.
Evanston man hurt after federal agents mistakenly targeted him, police sayInterview passages attributed to Miguel Angel Olivares and Brandon LeeWhy this label?
Relative to the force used against the Evanston resident, Lee expressly criticizes violence and links this incident to a broader pattern. His statement is a condemnation of the treatment.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee RightsCo-author of a joint statement with Sanctuary EvanstonDirectly involvedBefore this statement
In its September 21 report, the Sun-Times identified Sanctuary Evanston and ICIRR as joint issuers of a statement condemning the violence. The original release date was not independently established.
"Federal agents assaulting people in the streets does not make our community safer for anyone."
CondemnedCase context: Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston
Full statement and sources
In a joint statement with Sanctuary Evanston, ICIRR condemned the violence and called for elected officials to investigate.
After the statement
The joint statement affirmed neighbors’ dignity and safety regardless of status. The report said federal agencies could not immediately be reached for comment.
Evanston man, a U.S. citizen, injured in Sunday confrontation with U.S. immigration officersNathan Ryan interview and joint Sanctuary Evanston–ICIRR statement; paragraphs following hospital contactWhy this label?
Relative to the force used in the Evanston detention, the joint statement criticizes the conduct as harmful to community safety and calls for investigation. This is substantive condemnation.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Jan SchakowskyU.S. representative for Illinois's 9th DistrictBefore this statement
Schakowsky responded to reports that federal immigration agents had detained and injured a U.S. citizen in Evanston.
"No one should have to fear being detained or harmed by their own government."
CondemnedCase context: Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston
Full statement and sources
Jan Schakowsky called the federal agents' mistaken detention and injury of an Evanston resident unacceptable.
After the statement
She called for the facts to be established and for those responsible to be held accountable.
Schakowsky Condemns Reports of ICE Targeting U.S. Citizen in Evanston · Jan SchakowskySecond paragraph of Schakowsky's statementWhy this label?
The statement condemns the agents' conduct from the case's point of view because Schakowsky calls it unacceptable and demands accountability.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(13)
Official statement
Evanston Police Conduct Follow-Up on Incident Involving Federal Agents
Relevant passage: September 20, 2026 bulletin; body paragraphs 1–6
About this source
Police release separating officers’ observations from an involved federal agent’s account; it announces an ongoing investigation.
- Author
- Evanston Police Department
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
ICE declines to confirm officer identity in Evanston detention
Relevant passage: Final two reporting paragraphs, beginning 'On Monday, The Daily asked ICE to confirm Rivas' identity', and the following spokesperson response.
About this source
The Daily Northwestern reports an emailed ICE response received Monday, October 5, declining to confirm Esteban Rivas' identity. The October 6 article also describes police records identifying him. The email and publication times are not given; midnight denotes the stated dates.
- Author
- Ryan Ottignon
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Evanston Now publishes 911-call and police-record findings from the September 20 detention
Relevant passage: Opening paragraphs describing the FOIA-obtained 911 call; section 'EPD officer lost for words after agents left scene'; paragraphs identifying Esteban Rivas and describing three body-camera recordings.
About this source
Evanston Now's October 4 article describes records it obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, including the 911 call, police reports and body-camera recordings from the September 20 detention. It identifies ICE supervisor Esteban Rivas through the police reports and attributes the mistaken-identification account to him. October 4 is the article's publication date; the date the records were furnished is not specified.
- Author
- Matthew Eadie
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Schakowsky Condemns Reports of ICE Targeting U.S. Citizen in Evanston
Relevant passage: Second paragraph of Schakowsky's statement
Excerpt
"No one should have to fear being detained or harmed by their own government."
About this source
Official statement from Jan Schakowsky condemning the mistaken detention and injury of a U.S. citizen in Evanston.
- Author
- Office of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
I'm a f**king US citizen: Man left injured after ICE mistakenly detained him, officials say
Relevant passage: Paragraph describing the cellphone video audio of the detained man; paragraphs quoting Miguel Olivares's interview with CNN affiliate WLS
About this source
CNN Newssource (via KRDO) describes cellphone video in which the detained man is heard saying he is a U.S. citizen, and quotes Miguel Olivares's interview with WLS describing the man as shaken and largely unable to speak afterward.
- Author
- CNN Newssource
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
Victim in ICE stop was walking to pharmacy, witness says
Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting witness Ryan Garton on the knee, blood, hospital paperwork left on the curb, and his 'randomly targeted' characterization
About this source
Evanston Now interviews witness Ryan Garton, who describes an agent's knee on the man's back, blood on the man's shirt and an agent's knuckles, and hospital pharmacy paperwork left on the curb; Garton disputes the agent's account, as relayed by police, saying it looked like the agents randomly targeted the man.
- Author
- Evanston Now
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Kavanaugh stop incident in Evanston
Relevant passage: Paragraph quoting Mayor Daniel Biss's Tuesday afternoon remarks
About this source
Evanston RoundTable directly quotes Mayor Daniel Biss criticizing DHS's credibility, in an article explaining the Kavanaugh-stop legal standard DHS invoked.
- Author
- Evanston RoundTable
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
DHS says Sunday incident was due to man not identifying himself
Relevant passage: Paragraphs reporting DHS's emailed statement on lawful commands, non-cooperation, ICE training, and 8 USC 1357/reasonable-suspicion authority
About this source
Evanston Now quotes DHS's Tuesday statement defending the stop, including its citation of 8 USC 1357 and a Supreme Court ruling permitting apparent ethnicity as a factor in reasonable suspicion (the practice the article calls a Kavanaugh stop).
- Author
- Evanston Now
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Sanctuary Evanston condemns September 20 detention and calls for investigation
Relevant passage: Instagram caption posted September 21, 2026
About this source
Sanctuary Evanston’s own statement condemns the force and calls for investigation and accountability. It describes ICE identification as suspected.
- Author
- Sanctuary Evanston
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Video shows encounter between federal agents, man in Evanston
Relevant passage: Feds in Evanston section; Mayor Daniel Biss’s hospital-treatment and investigation remarks
About this source
FOX 32 attributes the hospital-treatment description and investigation update to Mayor Daniel Biss’s post on X.
- Author
- Nic Flosi — FOX 32 Chicago
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Evanston man, a U.S. citizen, injured in Sunday confrontation with U.S. immigration officers
Relevant passage: Nathan Ryan interview and joint Sanctuary Evanston–ICIRR statement; paragraphs following hospital contact
About this source
Original reporting quotes Ryan and a joint statement by Sanctuary Evanston and ICIRR. The groups criticize the violence and call for investigation.
- Author
- Michael Puente — Chicago Sun-Times / WBEZ
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Police investigating after federal agents detain wrong man in Evanston
Relevant passage: Olivares interview following the description of his phone recording; Nathan Ryan interview near article end
About this source
ABC7 directly quotes Olivares’s impression of an apparent strike and Ryan’s criticism of federal agents’ conduct. The strike remains an attributed allegation.
- Author
- Karen Jordan — ABC7 Chicago
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Evanston man hurt after federal agents mistakenly targeted him, police say
Relevant passage: Interview passages attributed to Miguel Angel Olivares and Brandon Lee
About this source
NBC Chicago reports witness and advocate interviews alongside the police account. Its text identifies the agents’ ICE affiliation as suspected.
- Author
- Rose Schmidt — NBC Chicago
- Published
- Accessed
Corrections
(1)
Corrections address errors in our reporting or labels. When a speaker changes their position, we add a separate statement and link it to the earlier one.
Reporting correction
Correction to: Statement by Ryan Garton
- Previous language
- Evanston Now reported that DHS said agents later determined the man was not the person they were seeking and had learned he was a U.S. citizen.
- Corrected language
- Evanston Now reported that police said the agents later determined the man was not the person they were seeking and had learned he was a U.S. citizen.
We previously attributed to the Department of Homeland Security a statement that agents later determined the man was not the person they were seeking. Evanston Now attributes that statement to police. We corrected the attribution.
This corrects our account of what happened.
Evanston Now interviews witness Ryan Garton, who describes an agent's knee on the man's back, blood on the man's shirt and an agent's knuckles, and hospital pharmacy paperwork left on the curb; Garton disputes the agent's account, as relayed by police, saying it looked like the agents randomly targeted the man.
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- Title
- Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston
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The Dispute Index. "Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-10-06. https://disputeindex.com/cases/federal-agents-use-of-force-mistaken-detention-evanston