Trump's ICE kills undocumented immigrant during traffic stop confrontation near Chicago

An undocumented immigrant was shot dead Friday by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Chicago after the agency said he resisted arrest during a traffic stop and tried to drive his car into ICE agents.

The man dragged an officer while fleeing in Franklin Park, about 15 miles west of downtown Chicago, leaving the officer with severe injuries, the agency said.

“One of the ICE officers was hit by the car and dragged a significant distance. Fearing his own life, the officer fired his weapon,” DHS said in a release.

The officer is in stable condition.The migrant, identified as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, died at a hospital.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, told media outlets in a statement that they were "praying for the speedy recovery" of the officer. She warned the public against helping undocumented immigrants.

"Viral social media videos and activists encouraging illegal aliens to resist law enforcement not only spread misinformation but also undermine public safety, as well as the safety of our officers and those being apprehended," she said.

President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration this year is a central part of his administration’s agenda, aiming to fulfill campaign promises of stricter border enforcement, mass deportations, and a drastic reduction in both legal and undocumented immigration.

He has repeatedly declared that reducing immigration is necessary to protect American jobs, keep Americans safe and alleviate strains on social services.

Notably, studies have shown undocumented immigrants do not commit more crimes than U.S. citizens. Recent studies and data analyses consistently show that undocumented immigrants have substantially lower crime and arrest rates compared to U.S.-born Americans.