27-Year-Old Hispanic Man Faces Hate Crime Charges for Anti-Immigrant Graffiti in Little Village
A 27-year-old Hispanic man, Philip Dominguez, is facing hate crime charges after allegedly spray-painting pro-ICE graffiti and swastikas on several buildings in Little Village that have ties to Palestinian and immigrant communities.
Dominguez turned himself in to Chicago police after detectives released surveillance images of the perpetrator responsible for the graffiti on Friday.
According to prosecutors, Dominguez targeted four locations in the neighborhood on July 19: the district office of Illinois State Senator Celina Villanueva in the 2500 block of South Central Park, and three locations in the 2700 block of West Cermak: the Chicago Liberation Center, Latino Progresando, and a produce store called La Fruteria.
At each location, Dominguez allegedly spray-painted swastikas, sometimes directly over pro-Palestinian murals, flags, or community messages supporting immigrants. Surveillance footage captured Dominguez defacing the door of Latino Progresando and a mural at La Fruteria, which had displayed the words “Free Palestine.”
On the following night, July 20, around 1:30 a.m., Dominguez returned to La Fruteria and added the phrase “ICE RULES” near the same mural, prosecutors alleged.
Prosecutors stated that Dominguez admitted to spray-painting all four sites and expressed anger about issues related to Palestine and immigration. His admissions were confirmed through surveillance footage and cell phone location data that placed him near the crime scenes at the times of the incidents.
All four sites are known for supporting immigrant rights or Palestinian causes. Senator Villanueva’s office window included her name and fliers for pro-Latino initiatives, prosecutors said. Latino Progresando provides legal aid for immigrants, while pamphlets on interactions with ICE were visible outside La Fruteria.
During his first court appearance, prosecutors did not seek to detain Dominguez. Judge Ankur Srivastava ordered him to stay away from the defaced locations and avoid contacting specific individuals, according to court records.
Dominguez is charged with five counts of hate crime with property damage, felony criminal damage to property, and five counts of misdemeanor property damage.
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