ICE Fines Legal Resident in Chicago for Not Carrying Green Card

ICE fines legal resident over Green Card

Immigration operation in Chicago

Case raises community concern

Rubén Antonio Cruz, a 60-year-old Hispanic immigrant and legal resident of Chicago, reported receiving a $130 fine from a federal agent after being questioned about his immigration status — a case that has shocked the city’s immigrant community.

The incident occurred on October 9 in Rogers Park, a neighborhood in northern Chicago known for its cultural diversity and large immigrant population.

Cruz, originally from El Salvador and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, said he was sitting on a street corner with a friend when immigration officers suddenly approached in an unmarked vehicle.

Immigration operation surprises Rubén Antonio Cruz in Chicago

ICE fines Hispanic man $130 in Chicago for not carrying his “green card.” https://t.co/7gkGMhXJQm

— Noticias Telemundo (@TelemundoNews) October 14, 2025

According to his account, the car pulled up abruptly, nearly mounting the curb, and agents got out as he was looking at his phone.

RELATED ARTICLE: Hispanic Man Pays Over $30,000 for a Green Card and Gets the Last Thing He Expected

The officers questioned him and asked whether he had his immigration documents, specifically his green card (permanent resident card).

Cruz said he had the documentation but explained that it was at home and that he could show it if the agents accompanied him.

Interrogation and fine spark controversy

ICE tickets Chicago man with legal residency $130 for not having his papers on him.

Under fed law, registered foreign nationals must carry proof of registration with them at all times. But prior to a second Trump administration, it was rarely enforced.https://t.co/CZWZXBORpB

— Laura N. Rodríguez Presa (@LAURA_N_ROD) October 13, 2025

According to Telemundo Chicago, the agents refused to accompany him home. Instead, they placed him in an official vehicle where he was temporarily detained.

During that time, Rubén Antonio Cruz said he was questioned while agents drove around nearby streets, checking his identity in their systems.

He noted that he suffers from heart problems and that the situation triggered a stress episode, fearing he might be unjustly detained despite his legal status in the country.

Legal obligation to carry a green card

ICE fines Chicago permanent resident for not carrying documentation https://t.co/RUzlK12SEY

— Telemundo Chicago (@TelemundoCHI) October 14, 2025

After confirming that Cruz was indeed a lawful permanent resident, the agents released him but handed him a $130 citation before he could leave.

The official notice stated that the reason for the fine was failure to carry his green card at the time of the encounter with federal authorities.

Immigration attorney Salvador Cicero explained that, in theory, U.S. law requires permanent residents to carry their documentation at all times.

However, he also noted that it is extremely rare for anyone to be fined solely for not physically having their green card.

ICE fines legal resident but DHS remains silent on the case

The case has caused widespread astonishment, as there are no recent precedents in Chicago of fines issued to legal residents for this reason.

So far, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not commented on the incident or clarified whether this marks the start of stricter document enforcement.

Immigrant rights organizations have expressed concern that this could become a new form of harassment against Latino communities.

Rubén Antonio Cruz said he doesn’t understand why he was treated as a suspect despite his verified legal residency and voiced concern about potential consequences of such operations.

His case continues to be discussed publicly and has reignited debate over the rights of legal residents when dealing with immigration agents in the United States.