This week, two individuals, reportedly in the country illegally, were arrested after allegedly using their vehicles to assault Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the Chicago area. These incidents occurred during Operation Midway Blitz, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The attacks took place during targeted enforcement operations on Tuesday. In the first incident, occurring in Norridge, Illinois, an individual identified as Miguel Escareno De Loera, allegedly from Mexico, reportedly struck an ICE vehicle twice before losing control and crashing into a stop sign. He was subsequently taken into custody.
In Bensenville, Illinois, a man identified as Widman Osberto Lopez-Funes, reportedly from Guatemala, is said to have used his vehicle to ram ICE officers before retreating into his residence. He was later apprehended at the scene. The DHS has stated that these attacks could potentially have resulted in fatalities.
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In response to these incidents, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “Thankfully, none of our law enforcement officers were killed because of these deranged criminals’ attacks.” She attributed the increase in attacks on ICE officers, which have reportedly risen by over 1,000 percent, to inflammatory rhetoric against ICE from certain political leaders. McLaughlin further stated that the DHS will pursue criminal charges against individuals who assault federal agents.
Both De Loera and Lopez-Funes are currently being held in federal custody pending removal proceedings. The DHS has indicated that charges for assaulting law enforcement are being prepared.
These are not isolated incidents. In recent weeks, there have been several reports of individuals attempting to use their vehicles as weapons against ICE officers. In one such incident in September, ICE agents in Franklin Park, Illinois, confronted a Mexican national, Silverio Villegas-González, who reportedly used his car to drag an officer during an enforcement operation.
These incidents underscore the potential risks faced by ICE officers in their daily operations. DHS remains committed to its mission of removing individuals in the country illegally who pose a threat to American communities. This task is not without controversy and challenges, and it is crucial to remember the importance of due process and civil rights in these enforcement proceedings.
As always, we will continue to follow this story and report on further developments as they occur.
