Immigrant Rights Organizations Condemn ICE Enforcement Operations in Chicago Leading to Detention and Deportation of Chicago Man, Erosion of Trust Between Immigrant Communities and Local Law Enforcement

February 06, 2013

To: Ricardo A. Wong, Chicago Field Office Director, ICE
CC: John Sandweg, Acting Director, ICE

On December 13, 2013 . Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted an operative in the 4800 block of North Drake street, a residential building in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. ICE agents entered the building wearing vests reading “Police,” carrying at least one unholstered weapon, and searching for a man who presumably lived at that location.

During this operation they knocked on the door of Mr. Anibal Fuentes Aguilar, an immigrant from Guatemala. Wanting to collaborate with the agents, whom he thought were Chicago Police, Mr. Fuentes opened the door. The agents showed Mr. Fuentes the photograph and name of the person they were looking for. After Anibal was unable to identify the individual in the photograph, the agents asked Mr. Fuentes for his identification. When Mr. Fuentes turned to get his identification, the agents entered his home and proceeded to search each room, without consent. The three immigration agents, with guns drawn, gathered Mr. Fuentes and his family in the living room, and requested their identifications. His family included two of his brothers who share the apartment, and his wife who was carrying their then 5-month old baby. The immigration agents requested information about Mr. Fuentes and his family, and detained Mr. Fuentes after identifying him as someone with a prior removal.

Mr. Fuentes (A 087489011) is the father and sole economic support of a U.S. citizen child, who is now 7 months old. He has no criminal record and is a hard working man. His only connections are in the United States, as he has no family in Guatemala. On January 31, 2014 the Chicago ICE office denied his request for prosecutorial discretion and stay of removal, and gave him until the end of February to leave the country.

This is not the first time that immigration agents have apprehended Chicago residents who were at home with their families or working. Per testimony of the building residents, this is the third time that this building has been the target of ICE enforcement. In addition, on June 13, 2013 three immigration agents approached a group of day laborers in the Albany park neighborhood, and requested their identifications. This led to the detention and eventual voluntary departure of Israel Lopez Bautista, another man with one prior removal and no criminal history.

It is unacceptable that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are operating with impunity in the city of Chicago. These actions have terrorized and divided families and threaten the status of Chicago as a sanctuary city for immigrants. In addition, the actions of these immigration agents, particularly those wearing “Police” vests deteriorates the relationship between immigrant communities and local police enforcement, who have worked hard to assure residents that their collaboration will not lead to deportation.

We, the undersigned civil, labor, faith and human rights organizations, condemn these operations by immigration enforcement in the city of Chicago. In addition, we ask that you re-consider your decision of denying Mr. Fuentes his stay of removal, and allow him to remain with his son and his family. Lastly, we welcome any conversation with the ICE office, in order to meet and talk about our concerns. We look forward to your response and your support in creating safe communities for all.

Thank you,

[Ongoing List of Illinois Organizations Signing Letter]

1. Undocumented Illinois
2. Immigrant Youth Justice League
3. Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
4. Latino Union of Chicago
5. Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America
6. West Suburban Immigrant Collective
7. University of Chicago Coalition for Immigrant Rights
8. Latino Organization of the Southwest
9. Latino Youth Action League
10. Dominican Immigrant Student Collective
11. Centro Autónomo de Albany Park
12. Fearless Undocumented Alliance at the University of Illinois at Chicago
13. National Day Laborer Organizing Network
14. Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE)
15. ARISE Chicago
16. Dream Action at Northern Illinois University
17. Chicago Socialist Campaign
18. Chicago Jobs With Justice
19. Centro de Trabajadores Unidos
20. Immigrant Workers Project
21. Lutheran Advocacy Illinois

If your organization would like to sign-on to this letter, e-mail the Immigrant Youth Justice League at info@ iyjl.org.