ICE declines to confirm Rivas' identity to The Daily Northwestern

U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementAgency spokesperson responding by email to The Daily Northwestern

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.

“never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers.”

Reporting

Open source (opens in a new tab)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.
Witness video showing federal agents restraining a man on the ground in Evanston, Illinois.
Credit: Miguel Angel Olivares via CBS News Chicago

Where this statement fits

Federal agents’ use of force during mistaken detention in Evanston

An Evanston resident reported injuries after federal agents detained and released him on September 20, 2026. Police said agents determined he was not their target. A witness and immigrant-rights advocates criticized the force used; an involved agent told police the man had resisted detention.

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Source and context

Reporting

ICE declines to confirm officer identity in Evanston detention (opens in a new tab)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.

Before the quotation

The Daily asked ICE to confirm the identity of an officer named in Evanston police records concerning the September 20 detention.

After the quotation

The Daily published the response October 6 and described police records identifying Rivas. Monday was October 5; the email time was not reported.

How this statement is classified

Explicitly stayed out

The label describes this statement's response within the context above.

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.

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More from this case

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DHS defends the Evanston stop

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

“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.”
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The Dispute Index
Title
ICE declines to confirm Rivas' identity to The Daily Northwestern
First published
Last updated
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https://disputeindex.com/events/4859-an-ice-spokesperson-declined-to-confirm-esteban-rivas

Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.

The Dispute Index. "ICE declines to confirm Rivas' identity to The Daily Northwestern". First published: 2026-10-06. Last updated: 2026-10-06. https://disputeindex.com/events/4859-an-ice-spokesperson-declined-to-confirm-esteban-rivas