Undocumented Immigrant Hospitalized After Federal Arrest in Melrose Park

Ricardo Aguayo Rodriguez, an undocumented Mexican immigrant, was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Melrose Park while riding his bike home from the grocery store. Video footage shows him being held in a headlock and struggling on the ground, leading to severe injuries that required hospitalization at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. His family has expressed distress about being denied visitation rights and limited information about his condition or whereabouts after his release from the hospital. The Department of Homeland Security stated that Rodriguez resisted arrest, assaulted law enforcement, and that pepper spray and physical force were used as last resort measures; he will remain in custody pending removal proceedings. Hospital officials noted that visitation is restricted for patients in custody, and federal agents coordinate security during hospital stays. Activists and family members criticized the lack of transparency and access, demanding accountability from both the hospital and federal authorities.