ICE detains Chicago tamale vendor on Southwest Side, community rallies in support

CHICAGO — A rally was held Friday morning for a tamale vendor who was detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the city’s Southwest Side.

Citizen app video appears to show a U.S. Customs and Border Protection pickup truck and ICE agents outside the Home Depot in the Back of the Yards neighborhood around 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

Immigration advocates said several people were arrested, including Laura Murillo — a well known tamale vendor in her community.

She was selling tamales at 47th Street and Western Avenue at the time she was detained.

Her fiancé Jaime Perez said he was on a video call with Murillo as she was being taken into custody.

“She sounded OK, for what it’s worth. The only thing she asked for was a jacket because she says it’s cold in there,” Perez said.

Murillo came to the United States from Mexico 20 years ago. She has three daughters, the youngest is 12-years-old and has special needs.

Murillo also owns a small restaurant on the city’s Far South Side with 20 employees.

On Friday morning, supporters of Murillo sold her tamales at the intersection of 47th Street and Western Avenue — near the area where she was detained. Money from the sales will help support Murillo’s family during this time.

Her relatives say she has no criminal record and they have obtained an attorney. The next steps for them include setting up a credit line so Murillo can make outside phone calls from the Broadview facility where she is being held.