A family from the suburbs of Elgin, Illinois, reported that a man living in the United States without legal permission, who had not been involved in any criminal activities, was arrested on Tuesday.
It happened as U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement entered a home to serve an arrest warrant, reportedly looking for a different man at the home.
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The fugitive task force forced its way into an Elgin home, battering down the door.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were not with them.
Family members in the home asked to see a warrant, but said the officers never showed them one.
The family said the officers told them they were looking for a relative wanted for a parole violation, but he doesn’t live there.
They said while the officers were in the home, they took the suspect’s father into custody.
They claim he is living in the U.S. without legal permission.
“I saw they were taking my Dad through the side door. He was already in handcuffs; so, I didn’t know much,” daughter Janeth Lopez said.
The family mentioned that their father has been residing in the U.S. for about 24 years and has a clean record without ever receiving a traffic ticket. They are currently seeking information on his whereabouts and what will happen next. Immigration advocates are raising concerns about the legality of the events that unfolded on Tuesday.
“There are significant concerns regarding the content of certain videos circulating on social media, particularly in relation to potential violations of Fourth Amendment rights,” stated Jasmine Pedroza, an immigration lawyer based in Elgin.
Less than an hour later nearby, officers, including ICE, smashed a car window to take another man into custody.
After asking the man in the passenger seat to get out of the car, the window was smashed in Elgin early Tuesday morning.
The man was on the phone with his wife as it was happening.
“They violated his rights. I mean why are they going into houses, breaking doors down, windows? It’s not right,” his wife said.
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