Police say ICE mistakenly detained a U.S. citizen in Evanston on Sept. 20, mistaking him for its target. Agents released him after learning he was not the person sought; he was hospitalized with head, neck and teeth injuries. Police are investigating; no charges have been filed.
Police said officers were dispatched around 9:49 a.m. after reports of two men arguing and found the man bloodied on the ground. A federal agent told an officer the man resembled someone agents sought and said he refused identification, was detained for fingerprinting and resisted detention. Police said an officer saw blood on the agent’s hands; the agent said he was injured trying to handcuff the man and declined medical treatment. An ambulance took the man to a local hospital, where the police chief met him and authorities photographed his injuries.
DHS told CNN and other outlets that ICE believed the man resembled its target. A spokesperson said he refused to identify himself and did not comply with lawful commands, and that agents relied on their training and left without further incident once he identified himself. CNN published cellphone video in which the man says he is a U.S. citizen; the outlet reported that surveillance footage appears to show two agents struggling with him before pulling him to the ground.
