ICE tickets Chicago man with legal residency $130 for not having his papers on him: ‘It’s not fair…I’m a resident’
Rueben Antonio Cruz shows a $130 ticket given to him by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for not having his proof of permanent resident registration with him near the intersection of North Clark Street and West Lunt Avenue in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, Oct. 9, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Rueben Antonio Cruz was sitting with a friend in Rogers Park when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents suddenly pulled up on the street.
“They asked us if we have papers. I said I do, but I don’t have them on me,” Cruz, a 60-year-old man from El Salvador with heart problems, told the Tribune in Spanish.
The agents detained Cruz, placing him in their truck, driving him around, and repeatedly asking questions: his birthplace, his parents’ names. “I told them they are dead,” he said. The agents said they still needed the information to verify his status in federal databases. After confirming Cruz is legally in the country, they released him—but not before issuing a $130 ticket for not carrying his documents. His friend, who is homeless and undocumented, was taken into federal custody.
Federal law requires registered foreign nationals to carry proof of registration at all times. However, enforcement of this rule has historically been rare. Under President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration efforts in Chicago and its suburbs—dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz”—ICE agents are using broad authority to target suspected immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security reported 800 arrests in the area since early September.
While officials say the operation targets the “worst of the worst,” critics say everyday residents are being swept up. Civil rights advocates have raised concerns about widespread violations. Last week, U.S. District Judge April Perry blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops in Illinois, citing credibility issues with federal claims.
The National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago said it has not seen clients cited in this way before but noted that the ticketing is part of a broader push to ensure immigrants maintain and carry registration documents. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center condemned the tactic as designed to “cause panic and fear.”
“America has never been a place where people need to ‘show one’s papers,’” said Ed Yohnka, communications director for the ACLU of Illinois. “Ticketing a lawful permanent resident for not carrying papers is unnecessary and cruel. It does nothing to make our communities safer—it is part of the Trump administration’s attempt to make life uncomfortable for immigrants.”
ICE did not respond to requests for comment. It is unclear how many people have been ticketed for failing to carry registration documents.
Cruz, a former dishwasher now living in a government-subsidized apartment, said he was relieved to be released but worried about paying the fine. ICE told him it must be paid within 60 days or he would face a court appearance.
“I offered to go to my house to show them my papers. I’m a resident. It’s not fair,” Cruz said.
U.S. citizens have also reported being questioned for proof of citizenship. Maria Greeley, 44, was stopped by federal agents after a double shift at a Chicago bar. Despite carrying a passport and credit cards, she said agents questioned her identity for an hour and accused her of lying about her name. The encounter left her terrified.
Days after Cruz’s incident, hundreds of Rogers Park residents joined a protest organized by Protect Rogers Park to stand with affected community members. Ald. Maria Hadden, who represents the neighborhood, said the gathering was meant to honor those taken and remind residents that “we are not powerless.” The protest also included canvassing, food, and community solidarity.
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