Chicago police arrested four Venezuelan men on Feb. 17, for allegedly robbing and beating a man unconscious on a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train. Three of the men could face deportation if convicted.
The attack on the 49-year-old victim occurred just before 5:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of South Pulaski Road. The men were identified as 22-year-old Fernando Loyo-Rodriguez, 21-year-old Wilker Gutierrez Sierra, 20-year-old Carlos Carreno-Carreno, and 18-year-old Yonnier Guasamucare Garcia. The men were arrested within 45 minutes of the attack.
The victim reportedly lost consciousness but has since recovered. The alleged attackers were placed into custody and have each been charged with robbery and aggravated battery by strangulation. Their bond hearings took place on February 19.
During their hearing, they gave their address as a city-run immigrant shelter, as confirmed by a public defender. The Chicago Police Department did not offer any information on whether the men entered the United States illegally, but confirmed they reside in the 300 block of South Plymouth Court in the Loop, WGN-TV reported.
Court records show three of the men are already facing misdemeanor charges for retail theft. If convicted, they could face deportation, although it is currently unclear which of the men this would apply to.
The state’s attorney petitioned the judge to not release the men before their trial, due to the organized and premeditated nature of the attack.
The City of Chicago has reportedly taken in over 30,000 illegal immigrants in less than two years, all of whom were transported into the city from the Southern Border. Almost a third of them have been given housing in taxpayer-funded shelters.
Chicago has spent close to half a billion dollars dealing with the illegal immigrant crisis. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, and the Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle have since requested an additional $250 million.
Last month, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), sent a letter to Chicago’s Democrat mayor Brandon Johnson expressing concerns over the use of two Chicago airports for illegal immigrant housing.
“As members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Committee), we write regarding the housing of illegal aliens at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport,” according to the letter dated Jan. 26.
“Since at least June of 2023, the city of Chicago has been housing illegal aliens at the Bus and Shuttle Center area of Terminal 1. More recently, the city has expanded this footprint to accommodate the housing of even more illegal aliens, relocating courtesy shuttle pick-ups for actual travelers to an entirely different terminal. According to public reporting, the city of Chicago is now utilizing Midway International Airport to house illegal aliens, too,” the letter stated.
According to the senators, the use of airports and airport resources to house illegal immigrants constitutes a misuse of billions of dollars of taxpayer money, which should serve to provide a solid and reliable national airport system.