A case involving an undocumented immigrant in Chicago has become a focal point for immigration advocates concerned about the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Abel Orozco, who has been living in the United States for nearly 30 years and has no criminal record, was detained during an ICE operation about six months ago.
According to the National Immigrant Justice Center, Orozco was apprehended when ICE agents entered his property without a warrant while searching for his eldest son, also an immigrant.
His attorney detailed the events leading up to his detention, explaining that Orozco was handcuffed shortly after he arrived home and that ICE agents forcibly entered his vehicle without verifying his identity.
“It was only 45 minutes to an hour later that they realized they didn’t have the right person,” said Mark Fleming, the associate director of litigation at the National Immigrant Justice Center.
Despite this realization, Orozco remained handcuffed while ICE agents continued their investigation, and the justification for his detention was allegedly based on a warrant that never existed.
Orozco’s continued detention has raised alarms among critics who see it as an example of the Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive approach to immigration enforcement.
Fleming emphasizes that Orozco’s case reflects a pattern of warrantless arrests that have become common under the current administration.
“You’re seeing ICE trying to cut as many corners as they can when it comes to traditional protocols, like establishing probable cause,” Fleming commented.
As of now, Orozco is still in custody, and both his family and legal team are advocating for his release.
Documents submitted by Orozco’s attorneys claim that his arrest was unlawful and that it violated a 2022 settlement specific to six Midwest states.
This legal agreement stipulates that ICE must have probable cause before they can make warrantless arrests, a measure put in place after a lawsuit addressing immigration raids during the first Trump administration.
While ICE defended its practices by stating that they are fulfilling their mandate to enforce immigration laws, critics argue that the collateral arrests of law-abiding residents, like Orozco, highlight serious flaws in their enforcement strategy.
The Trump administration had claimed that recent operations primarily targeted individuals with criminal records; however, data has emerged showing that nearly half of those currently in ICE custody do not have any criminal convictions.
This trend points to a broader issue: the enforcement tactics may disproportionately affect longstanding residents of the U.S., many of whom have established deep roots and families.
Fleming pointed out that Orozco’s detention is having a devastating impact on his family life.
His wife, currently battling breast cancer, and their household face financial instability as Orozco’s tree-cutting business — the family’s primary income source — struggles to survive without him.
One of his sons has had to abruptly take over the business operations, thrusting the family into a precarious situation.
Orozco’s immigration history adds another layer of complexity to his predicament. After arriving legally in the U.S. from Mexico in the late 1990s via a request from his sister, he later traveled to Mexico to visit his ailing father.
However, since he left without following proper protocols, he was denied re-entry into the U.S., which led to his undocumented status after he re-entered the country later.
Legal proceedings regarding Orozco’s case are expected to take place in the coming weeks, with a judge set to determine whether he should be released from detention.
The government, meanwhile, is actively opposing his release, adding urgency to the ongoing situation.
Concerned observers, particularly advocates for immigrant rights, express fear that Orozco’s situation could be a harbinger of further systemic issues within ICE’s enforcement strategies.
Fleming noted that widespread arrests could lead to mistakes and wrongful detentions as ICE seeks to meet aggressive quotas set by the administration.
“This drive for numbers is creating an environment where errors in judgment are likely to occur,” he stated.
Critics suggest that a desperate push to increase deportation numbers may result in the apprehension of countless long-term residents who, like Orozco, have built their lives in the U.S. over many years.
The broader implications of these enforcement efforts remain to be fully understood, particularly as advocates and legal observers closely monitor ICE’s actions in various regions.
With the current situation surrounding Orozco, the intersection of immigration law, enforcement tactics, and human rights will continue to be a critical area for public discourse and legal scrutiny as the case unfolds.
image source from：nbcnews
