ICE Mistakenly Detains US Citizen, Leaves Him Injured in Illinois
WHO:
CNN - The man involved in the incident is an Evanston resident, whose name has not been disclosed.
CNN - The Evanston Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are involved in the investigation.
CNN - Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss commented on the incident.
CNN - Kate Huddleston, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union Immigrants’ Rights Project, provided legal context regarding ICE's authority.
WHAT:
CNN - The man was found on the ground with several bystanders helping him after reports of two men arguing.
CNN - Evanston police reported that one officer saw blood on the hands of an ICE agent, which the agent claimed was from an injury sustained during the attempt to detain the man.
CNN - Surveillance video shows two agents and the man in an upright struggle before he was taken to the ground.
CNN - Witness Miguel Olivares stated, “It looked like police vehicles until I started hearing, ‘I’m a US citizen. I’m a US citizen.’”
CNN - ICE agents mistakenly detained a US citizen, leaving him injured on the ground.
CNN - The man reported injuries to his head, neck, and teeth.
CNN - The man was treated for minor injuries at Saint Francis Hospital.
CNN - Five federal agents were involved in the operation.
CNN - The man was released after ICE agents determined he was not the target they were seeking.
WHERE:
CNN - The incident occurred in Evanston, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.
CNN - The man was found on the ground near an intersection in Evanston.
WHEN:
CNN - The incident occurred around 9:49 a.m. on September 20, 2026.
WHY:
CNN - The ICE agents were conducting a targeted enforcement operation and mistook the man for someone they were seeking.
HOW:
CNN - The ICE agents approached the man and identified themselves as law enforcement, but he did not initially identify himself.
CNN - ICE agents approached the man, identified themselves as law enforcement, but he did not cooperate or identify himself initially.
CNN - Surveillance video shows a struggle between the agents and the man before he was taken to the ground.
CNN - Witnesses reported that the man was held on the ground and that one agent appeared to hit him in the face during the encounter.
(UPDATED September 24, 2026 11:01 UTC)
A man was found on the ground with several bystanders assisting him after reports of an argument between two men, and surveillance video shows the struggle that led to him being taken down by ICE agents. According to Evanston police, one officer noticed blood on the hands of an ICE agent, who claimed it was from an injury sustained during the attempt to detain the man. Witness Miguel Olivares described the scene, saying it initially looked like police vehicles until he heard the man declaring, “I’m a US citizen. I’m a US citizen.”
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(UPDATED September 24, 2026 09:59 UTC)
In Evanston, Illinois, a man was mistakenly detained by ICE agents during a targeted enforcement operation, resulting in injuries to his head, neck, and teeth. The incident, which left the man on the ground near an intersection, involved five federal agents and has prompted an investigation by the Evanston Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security. After being treated for minor injuries at Saint Francis Hospital, he was released when it was determined he was not the target they were seeking.