
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her administration sent the U.S. a diplomatic note following the fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas in Chicago earlier this month.
She went on to say that the man's family is being supported by her administration, and again criticized the treatment of migrants by the Trump administration.
"We believe this situation will even affect the U.S. economy. There are already several business leaders in the agricultural and service sectors saying they are facing problems because they can't hire. Not only Mexicans but people from other countries too."
"There is no reason to discriminate. On the contrary, Mexicans are heroes because they leave their communities and risk everything to work there, help their families and support the U.S. economy. They have our support, our solidarity," she added.
Villegas was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent during an enforcement operation after he resisted arrest and dragged the agent with his car while attempting to flee, the Department of Homeland Security claimed earlier this month.
However, an Illinois lawmaker is calling for a full investigation into the incident after new body camera footage raised questions about the official account of the incident.
Video obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times shows ICE agents describing their injuries as "nothing major" shortly after the September 12 shooting in Franklin Park, Illinois. DHS had previously said one agent was "seriously injured" and dragged a significant distance by Villegas González's car.
"An ICE agent shot Silverio dead. DHS lied about what happened," Rep. Delia C. Ramirez said in a post on X. "There needs to be a full, thorough investigation into what happened that morning. All camera footage must be released. And Noem must come to the committee and account for ICE's unlawfulness and lies."
The bodycam footage shows Villegas González, a 38-year-old father of two from Michoacán, Mexico, being removed from the street after the shooting. He was later pronounced dead at Loyola University Medical Center.
The video also shows the blue jeans of a federal agent were left bloodied and torn, and he told local police that he was "dragged a little bit." Speaking over a radio, the federal agent who told police that Villegas González tried to use his car as a weapon said his partner had suffered "a left knee injury and some lacerations to his hands."
"Nothing major," the injured agent said.
"Nothing major," his partner echoed.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has demanded a "full, factual accounting," while Mexican officials, including President Claudia Sheinbaum, have condemned the killing and called for a thorough investigation, as The Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Mexican consulate in Chicago has formally requested access to all evidence.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.