Tricia McLaughlin says the agent used appropriate force
Tricia McLaughlinDepartment of Homeland Security assistant secretary for public affairs
McLaughlin said the agent followed his training and used appropriate force to protect himself and others.
“We are praying for the speedy recovery of our law enforcement officer. He followed his training, used appropriate force, and properly enforced the law to protect the public and law enforcement.”
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
DHS's contemporaneous account says Villegas González drove at officers, struck and dragged an ICE officer, and that an officer fired while fearing for his life.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
DHS said Villegas González drove at officers and dragged one agent a significant distance.
After the quotation
The department said the officer feared for his life and that the shooting was under review.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
She expressly defends the shooting as an appropriate, trained response to a threat.
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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. "Tricia McLaughlin says the agent used appropriate force". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1485-mclaughlin-said-the-agent-followed-his-training-and