An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, Adam Saracco, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge for throwing a protester to the ground. The incident occurred while the protester filmed Saracco on his phone. Saracco, 41, entered the plea in Maywood and received a sentence of one year of supervision.
Police body camera footage shows Saracco speaking with Brookfield police before facing charges. He was charged for the event that took place on December 27, 2025, when the agent, then off duty, was involved in a confrontation while pumping gas. The alleged victim claimed he was forcibly thrown to the ground.
Saracco is reportedly the first and only immigration agent charged in Cook County related to conduct toward protesters and civilians during Operation Midway Blitz, an immigration enforcement operation. During a court hearing, Saracco appeared in person but chose not to make a statement.
Advocates and community members have pressured Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke to pursue charges against agents for alleged misconduct during the operation. Burke noted her office only handles charges for on-duty incidents and requires law enforcement referrals for cases.
In an effort earlier this week, ten individuals, including Marimar Martinez, filed police reports aiming to initiate local investigations. Saracco’s case proceeded after Brookfield Police were called to a gas station where Saracco and Robert Held, a local attorney and frequent protester, clashed. Held reported being thrown to the ground following him from an ICE processing center nearby.
Saracco was recorded expressing frustration at having a camera pointed at him. He reportedly attempted to grab Held’s phone. Officers interviewed witnesses, including a bystander who witnessed the confrontation and intervened verbally.
The Brookfield Police Department initially sought felony charges, but the state’s attorney’s office declined, directing the case toward misdemeanor court as more appropriate. Held had advocated for upgraded charges, but the prosecutor’s office emphasized their duty to evaluate evidence consistently and ensure legal standards are upheld.
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