Ramirez calls Villegas González's death a murder by federal agents
Delia RamirezU.S. representative from Illinois
Ramirez called Villegas González's death a murder by federal agents and said the state investigation was necessary for accountability and justice.
“The recently announced investigation by the Illinois State Police into the murder of Silverio Villegas González by federal agents is a needed step towards accountability and justice.”
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
Official statement responding to the state police investigation. Ramirez calls the shooting a murder and demands accountability; the investigation itself does not establish that legal characterization.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Illinois State Police announced an investigation into the shooting of Villegas González by federal agents.
After the quotation
Ramirez said the investigation was only a beginning and called for accountability for violence by DHS.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Ramirez called the death a murder by federal agents and demanded accountability, directly condemning the shooting.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
More from this case
Read the full caseFamily 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
Lawrence Benito calls Villegas González’s death a murder
“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.”Read statement
Family attorney Jonathan Manes warns delay threatens the shooting investigation
“In these kinds of investigations, speed can matter. Evidence, witnesses, eyewitnesses, video. These sorts of things can disappear if you don't get them soon.”Read statement
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Ramirez calls Villegas González's death a murder by federal agents
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- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/2225-ramirez-called-villegas-gonz%C3%A1lez-s-death-a-murder
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Ramirez calls Villegas González's death a murder by federal agents". First published: 2026-09-24. Last updated: 2026-09-24. https://disputeindex.com/events/2225-ramirez-called-villegas-gonz%C3%A1lez-s-death-a-murder