Wilmer Catalan-Ramirez is a devoted father and husband. He worked full time in a body shop and had never been a member of a street gang. That didn’t stop CPD from listing him in the Gang Database and providing this false information to ICE.
On March 27, 2017, six ICE agents stormed Mr. Catalan-Ramirez’s house without a warrant, slammed him to the ground, handcuffed him, and took him away. He spent the next ten months at McHenry County Jail – separated from his family, and denied necessary accommodations and medical care to treat the traumatic brain injury and partial paralysis he had sustained during a drive-by shooting a few months before as well as the injuries he sustained as a result of the ICE agents’ brutal use of force against him during their arrest.
The MacArthur Justice Center joined with the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild to sue the City, ICE, McHenry County, and the medical care provider of McHenry County Jail on Mr. Catalan-Ramirez’s behalf. We secured him the necessary medical care and accommodations while he was in custody. We then secured his freedom from ICE detention and cleared his name in the CPD’s Gang Database.
Case Developments
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Mr. Catalan-Ramirez Released from ICE Detention —
After more than 10 months in an ICE detention, Mr. Catalan-Ramirez is back with his wife and three children.
January 23, 2018 -
City Agrees to Correct Gang Database Errors —
A settlement was reached with the City where CPD agreed to write a letter to federal immigration officials in support of Mr. Catalan-Ramirez’s visa application, explaining that CPD cannot verify that he is a gang member. This letter was also uploaded into the Gang Database to correct the false gang designation.
December 7, 2017 -
Defendants Agree to Provide Accommodations for Mr. Catalan-Ramirez's Disabilities —
The McHenry County Defendants agree to provide accommodations for Mr. Catalan-Ramirez’s disabilities while in custody.
September 14, 2017 -
Family Sues ICE, City of Chicago —
Mr. Catalan-Ramirez remains detained in McHenry County Jail, denied needed medical care for his injuries and spends most of his day isolated in a cell. Because of the lack of medical care, he risks living for the rest of his life with partial paralysis.
May 1, 2017 -
ICE Agents Raid Mr. Catalan-Ramirez's Home —
Six ICE agents entered Catalan-Ramirez’ family’s apartment without a warrant, slammed him to the floor and handcuffed him – aggravating preexisting injuries Mr. Catalan-Ramirez received two months earlier as a bystander of a drive by shooting.
March 27, 2017
Press Releases
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January 25, 2018
ICE Releases Man After 10 Months of Wrongful Detention
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December 6, 2017
Wilmer Catalan-Ramirez Clears Name after Nightmare Immigration Raid
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May 1, 2017
Family Sues ICE, City of Chicago, after Gang Database information Led to Violent Immigration Raid that Left Immigrant Severely Injured
Wilmer’s case is an example of how local city policies, such as the Gang Database, put immigrant communities in the path of Trump’s deportation machine. If the City of Chicago truly wants to be a sanctuary city where immigrants can seek safe refuge, it should stop sharing its Gang Database with ICE and inform ICE the database is rife with inaccuracies and is not a legitimate law enforcement tool.
Key Documents
Press Releases
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January 25, 2018
ICE Releases Man After 10 Months of Wrongful Detention
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December 6, 2017
Wilmer Catalan-Ramirez Clears Name after Nightmare Immigration Raid
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May 1, 2017
Family Sues ICE, City of Chicago, after Gang Database information Led to Violent Immigration Raid that Left Immigrant Severely Injured
In the News
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Man wrongfully detained for months says police falsely labeled him as a gang member
WGN9 January 29, 2018 -
Undocumented immigrant tells why he accepted deal to secure his freedom, for now
Chicago Sun-Times January 29, 2018 -
Chicago’s Promise
The Intercept January 28, 2018 -
Immigrant released from detention after being wrongly listed as gang member
Chicago Tribune January 25, 2018