Family and friends gathered in the small town of Irimbo, Michoacan, Mexico, on Friday to commemorate the life of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, a 38-year-old father who was recently killed during an attempted arrest in the United States. Mourning his untimely death, the community is also calling for justice and accountability in the wake of the shooting by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on September 12.
Villegas, who had resided in the United States for 18 years, returned to his hometown in a coffin. On Friday, a solemn funeral procession carried his body to a church for a funeral mass. His brother, Jorge Villegas, expressed the family’s deep sorrow, emphasizing the relief that, despite the tragedy, they could at least honor Silverio’s memory with a proper Christian burial.
The incident, which occurred shortly after Villegas had dropped off his children at their school and daycare, has drawn attention to the controversial and aggressive tactics sometimes employed by immigration agents. Questions and tensions are mounting around U.S. President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration measures, with Villegas’ story serving as a tragic example of the methods being employed.
The Department of Homeland Security asserts that the agent discharged his weapon in self-defense, claiming Villegas attempted to attack the agents with his vehicle. However, bodycam footage and reviewed documents reveal a more nuanced incident than initially reported. Both Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have officially called for detailed investigations into ICE’s conduct to ensure justice prevails.
Local residents and acquaintances of Villegas speak of a man dedicated to his family and hardworking by nature. Blanca Avila, who knew Silverio from school, reminisced about his kindness and how his untimely passing resonated with her fears about relatives still living in the United States amid aggressive immigration enforcement practices.
This unfortunate event echoes broader themes of immigration enforcement issues within the U.S., complicating the national dialogue on how to balance law enforcement duties with human rights and dignity. Across similar incidents in the country, there is a growing call for immigration reform that advocates for more compassionate approaches while upholding national security.
In remembering Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, the hope remains for a more just process and that his death will prompt reflection and action on how immigration policies are enforced, encouraging safety and respect for vulnerable communities.