ICE Officer Charged with Battery After Alleged Attack on Protester in Brookfield

An off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer was charged with battery last month following an incident at a gas station in Brookfield, Illinois. The charges stem from an alleged attack on a 68-year-old man, Robert Held, on December 27th.

Details of the Incident

According to statements, Robert Held followed the ICE officer from the parking lot of a Broadview ICE facility and was filming the officer as he stopped for gas. Held stated the officer approached him on the sidewalk, threw him to the ground, and attempted to take his phone. Held reportedly told the officer to “calm down” and “deescalate.”

Did You Know? Robert Held was previously detained for eight hours while protesting at the Broadview ICE facility last fall.

Brookfield police initially investigated the case as a potential felony due to Held’s age and the location on a public sidewalk. However, prosecutors recommended a misdemeanor charge, which was subsequently filed by the police department. Held expressed relief that charges were filed, stating he was pleased there would be “accountability and that justice will be done.”

Broader Context and Previous Allegations

This incident occurs against a backdrop of increased scrutiny of ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) practices. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, following a recent shooting involving an ICE officer in Minneapolis, stated that ICE operations have “resulted in unnecessary deaths, broken relationships between law enforcement and our citizens, and an untold amount of terror unleashed on communities.”

The office also clarified it lacks jurisdiction over federal agencies and relies on law enforcement to collect evidence for charging decisions. Separately, an off-duty Customs and Border Patrol officer was recently indicted on federal charges related to “gunpoint sexual assaults” in the suburbs.

Expert Insight: The limitations placed on state and local prosecutors in pursuing cases against federal law enforcement officials highlight the complex jurisdictional landscape surrounding immigration enforcement and accountability.

An ICE official named Adam Saracco has been the subject of prior lawsuits filed in Illinois. One lawsuit from 2016 alleged that Saracco and other ICE officials physically and verbally assaulted an immigrant of African descent, using excessive force and racial slurs. These lawsuits were ultimately dismissed.

What Happens Next

Adam Saracco’s first court appearance is scheduled for early March. It is possible he will enter a plea at that time. Depending on the outcome of the court proceedings, Saracco could face penalties associated with a misdemeanor battery conviction. Further investigation into the incident by internal ICE authorities is also a possibility, though not confirmed. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What charge was Adam Saracco facing?

Adam Saracco was charged with a misdemeanor count of battery.

What did Robert Held say happened at the gas station?

Robert Held said the ICE officer threw him to the ground and attempted to take his phone after approaching him on the sidewalk.

Has Adam Saracco faced legal issues before?

An ICE official named Adam Saracco was named in several lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, all of which were dismissed, including one alleging assault and the use of racial slurs.

As investigations and legal proceedings unfold, how might this case influence public perception of ICE and its officers?