Key Points: Evanston police say ICE agents mistakenly detained and injured a U.S. citizen during an operation on Sept. 20. Video published by CNN appears to show federal agents wrestling with the man, who told them he was a U.S. citizen. The man was hospitalized with head, neck and dental injuries and later released after agents determined he was not their target. Evanston police are actively investigating and have not filed charges.
U.S. Citizen Hospitalized After Mistaken Detention by ICE Agents in Evanston, Police Say
Federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection walk in Chicago on Sept. 28, 2025.Credit: Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
The Evanston Police Department says Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents mistakenly detained and injured a U.S. citizen during an operation on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 20. The man was later taken to a local hospital with injuries to his head, neck and teeth, and authorities have launched an active investigation.
What Happened
Police said officers were dispatched at about 9:49 a.m. after reports of two men arguing. Responding officers found the man on the ground, bleeding, with visible injuries to his head, neck and teeth. An ambulance transported him to a nearby hospital, where the city’s police chief met with him and officers photographed his injuries.
Federal agents detain a man and load him into a passenger van in Carpentersville, Ill., on Oct. 15, 2025.Credit: Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty
Video and Accounts From the Scene
Cellphone video shared on social media and published by CNN captures portions of the incident; surveillance footage obtained by the outlet appears to show two federal agents struggling with the man before pulling him to the ground. In the cellphone video, the man can be heard saying he is a U.S. citizen.
Federal Agency Statement and Police Response
According to an Evanston Police Department statement, a federal agent told a police officer that ICE was trying to identify someone who resembled the person they were seeking. The agent said the man initially refused to provide identification, was detained for fingerprinting and resisted detention. Agents later determined he was not their target and learned he was a U.S. citizen; he was released. The department declined to identify the man beyond noting he is an Evanston resident.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Department of Homeland Security personnel, and then-Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino in Broadview, Ill., on Sept. 27, 2025.Credit: Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty
One Evanston officer reported seeing blood on the hands of a federal agent at the scene. That agent told police he was injured while attempting to handcuff the man and declined medical treatment.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, told CNN that ICE had been conducting an operation in the area and believed the detained man resembled their target. A DHS spokesperson said the individual was given lawful commands, was initially uncooperative and refused to identify himself; ICE officers left the scene once he identified himself. People magazine said it reached out to DHS for additional comment but had not received a response by Wednesday.
Investigation and Context
The Evanston Police Department said it is actively investigating the incident and has not filed any charges related to the attempted detention. The report noted that the Chicago area, including Evanston, was the focus of a large deployment of ICE and other federal agents late last year, an operation that previously prompted protests and temporary school lockdowns.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and additional details may emerge as officials review video and interview witnesses and agents involved.
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