Family of man killed in Franklin Park, Illinois, ICE shooting files claim against federal government, tell me about this news today
08-10-2026
Family of Silverio Villegas González Files Federal Claim Over Fatal Franklin Park ICE Shooting
The family of Silverio Villegas González, who was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in suburban Franklin Park, Illinois, filed an administrative claim against the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).
WTTWOverview of the Legal Claim
Agencies Targeted: The tort claim names ICE, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the FBI.
WTTWLegal Representation: The family is represented by civil rights attorneys from the MacArthur Justice Center and the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC).
WTTWCore Allegation: Attorneys and family members assert that the agent’s use of lethal force was unjustified, reckless, and unlawful against an unarmed driver during an attempted traffic stop.
WTTWNext Procedural Steps: Under the FTCA, filing an administrative claim is a mandatory prerequisite before a formal wrongful-death lawsuit can proceed in federal court, giving the federal agencies an opportunity to investigate or settle the claim.
Background: The Franklin Park Incident
The Encounter: On September 12, 2025, federal agents attempted to stop Villegas González’s vehicle in Franklin Park as part of local immigration enforcement operations.
CBS NewsThe Shooting: Authorities claimed the driver attempted to flee and dragged an agent, prompting the agent to fire. Legal advocates and surveillance records indicate that the agent fired into the vehicle at close range, fatally striking Villegas González in the neck.
CBS News+ 1Disputed Record: While federal officials initially characterized the operation as targeting a dangerous individual, attorneys and public records confirmed that Villegas González was a working father whose only past encounters with law enforcement were minor traffic violations, not a violent criminal history.
Lack of Body Cameras: Neither ICE agent involved was wearing an active body camera during the encounter, intensifying demands for transparency and leading to an independent inquiry by the Illinois State Police.
CBS News