Marcos Charles says the force was appropriate
Marcos CharlesActing executive associate director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations
Charles told the Associated Press that, after seeing the officer’s injuries, he regarded the force as appropriate.
“The Associated Press reported that Charles had met with the officer in the hospital, saw his injuries and “felt that the force used was appropriate.””
Reporting
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
Reporting
About this source
Associated Press report based on police body-camera footage and interviews, including positions from ICE official Marcos Charles, Secretary Kristi Noem and Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Police body-camera footage later showed the injured agent describing his injuries as nothing major.
After the quotation
Charles declined further comment because the shooting remained under investigation.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
His reported assessment directly defends the level of force used in the shooting.
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The Dispute Index. "Marcos Charles says the force was appropriate". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1484-charles-told-the-associated-press-that-after-seeing