Father of Two Killed in Chicago ICE Operation Had Built Quiet Life in U.S.

Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, 38, was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Franklin Park, Illinois, shortly after dropping off his two children at school and daycare. The incident occurred during a large-scale immigration crackdown initiated by the Trump administration and marks the first death linked to the Chicago sweep.

The Department of Homeland Security described Villegas Gonzalez as a “criminal alien” with a history of reckless driving, claiming he drove toward agents, prompting the fatal shooting. DHS said it would conduct a separate investigation following the initial agency’s review. Local police and the FBI responded to the incident, though it remains unclear which agency is now leading the investigation.

Family and friends, however, paint a different picture. Villegas Gonzalez, originally from Irimbo, Michoacán, Mexico, had left his hometown in 2007 seeking better opportunities in the U.S. He worked long hours as a cook in local restaurants, supported his family, and had been sober for over a year after previously struggling with alcohol-related liver disease.

Colleagues describe him as soft-spoken and dependable, while his partner Blanca Mora highlighted his dedication to their blended family. Villegas Gonzalez frequently took his children to the library, played with Lego sets, and emphasized family time without distractions like phones at dinner.

On the morning of the shooting, surveillance footage showed ICE agents attempting to pull him over shortly after he dropped his children off. Villegas Gonzalez backed up his car and tried to drive away. Gunshots were heard in the vicinity, and he eventually collided with a parked delivery truck.

His two children have been placed in foster care. Family members recall him as a devoted father who constantly thought about his children’s well-being.