Lawrence Benito on Government Transparency

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Statement history

2 statements on this page. Dates: September 9, 2026

2 matching statements. Dates: September 9, 2026

2 published statements. Dates: September 9, 2026

Lawrence Benito
Role at the time: Executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
September 9, 2026Condemned
Statement summary
Benito cited the Martinez shooting as evidence 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.”
Read the official statement

Reps. García, Ramírez, Quigley, Jackson, Local Elected Officials and Immigration Advocates Call for Full Accountability for DHS Brutality and Meaningful Immigration ReformQuotation attributed to Lawrence Benito

The congressional press release compiles remarks from elected officials and immigration advocates calling for accountability and reform.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

He uses the shooting as a principal example in a broader condemnation of ICE’s conduct.

Read statement Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?

Lawrence Benito

Role at the time: Executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

September 9, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

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.”

Read the official statementReps. García, Ramírez, Quigley, Jackson, Local Elected Officials and Immigration Advocates Call for Full Accountability for DHS Brutality and Meaningful Immigration ReformQuotation attributed to Lawrence Benito

The congressional press release compiles remarks from elected officials and immigration advocates calling for accountability and reform.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

He explicitly labels the death a murder and uses it to condemn ICE’s conduct.

Read statement Was ICE justified in fatally shooting Silverio Villegas González?