Chicago Councilwoman Jessie Fuentes Arrested During ICE Operation at Health Center
Chicago Councilwoman Jessie Fuentes was arrested and handcuffed by federal immigration agents while observing an operation at a health center in the city’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, the heart of Chicago’s Puerto rican community.
Fuentes whent to the health installation after receiving reports of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation taking place within the facility. According to reports, agents were searching for a man being treated for a broken leg. Health center directors stated they denied agents access to patient treatment areas, allowing access only to the emergency room.
Fuentes described the encounter as “violence,” stating she was physically restrained. ICE agents claimed Fuentes interfered with their work, however, video footage of the incident does not appear to support this claim.
The arrest sparked immediate condemnation from local and federal officials. Democratic Congresswoman delia Ramírez, representing the Puerto Rican neighborhood in the House of Representatives, stated, “ICE is out of control.It operates with impunity, outside the limits of the law. It is trampling our rights. It is indeed terrifying our communities.”
The Power4Puerto Rico association released a statement asserting Fuentes was subjected to ”physical violence sponsored by the State” and arrested “without a court order or justification at the hands of ICE agents.” The organization emphasized Fuentes’ consistent advocacy against injustice and her role in defending the Puerto Rican community.
Fuentes also noted an increased presence of federal agents in the neighborhood on the day of her arrest,including reports of tear gas deployment near a local Home Depot.
The incident is currently under scrutiny, with concerns raised about the actions of ICE agents and the rights of individuals within healthcare facilities.