Lawrence Benito calls Villegas González’s death a murder
Lawrence BenitoExecutive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Benito called Villegas González’s death a murder and said it showed that ICE does not keep communities safe.
“Whether it be the apartment raids in South Shore, the shooting of Marimar Martinez in Brighton Park, or the murder of Silverio Villegas González, it’s been proven that ICE does NOT keep us safe - they are designed to intimidate communities of color and deport as many people as possible.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Was ICE justified in fatally shooting Silverio Villegas González?
On September 12, 2025, an unnamed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Silverio Villegas González during a vehicle stop in Franklin Park, Illinois. The Department of Homeland Security said Villegas González refused commands, drove at officers, struck and dragged one agent a significant distance, and caused the shooter to fear for his life. An Illinois Accountability Commission review of surveillance and police body-camera footage said Villegas González reversed about 50 feet and then drove into an open lane away from the agents before two shots were heard. The commission said the available evidence did not establish whether or how an agent was hit or dragged, and found reasonable cause to investigate a shooting without apparent justification. Illinois State Police opened an investigation in May 2026. The dispute is whether Villegas González posed an imminent threat when the agent fired.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
The congressional press release compiles remarks from elected officials and immigration advocates calling for accountability and reform.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Benito joined elected officials and advocates calling for accountability for DHS conduct.
After the quotation
He urged local leaders to enforce protections for immigrant communities.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
He explicitly labels the death a murder and uses it to condemn ICE’s conduct.
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Read the full caseManes condemns Silverio's killing as family seeks compensation
“His life was cut short senselessly and unnecessarily by our government.”Read statement
Amnesty condemns the shooting
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“unlawful use of lethal force”Read statement
Family attorney Jonathan Manes condemns federal silence on shooter's identity
“It's shocking that a year after the shooting, the federal government has refused to release any information about ICE officers that took a man's life on our streets... They haven't even provided the name of the officer who shot Silverio and killed him.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Lawrence Benito calls Villegas González’s death a murder". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1460-benito-called-villegas-gonz%C3%A1lez-s-death-a-murder