Video above: Chicagoland immigration raids lead to more than 3,000 arrests in two months
Chicago (wgn) – U.S. Border Patrol agents were reportedly shot during immigration enforcement operations in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood Saturday afternoon.
The Department of Homeland Security claims agents were conducting an immigration enforcement operation near 26th Street and Kedzie Avenue when an unidentified man driving a black Jeep opened fire at the agents and drove off.
DHS further alleged that a group of people also threw paint cans and bricks at a Border Patrol vehicle.
The Chicago Police Department was called to assist and the scene was cleared.
CPD said their officers were dispatched to the area for a report of federal agents shooting at them. Authorities have secured the scene and there are no reports of any casualties from the firing.
However, a police officer was accidentally hit by a GMC pickup truck driven by a 20-year-old woman. The officer suffered minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital in good condition, while the woman was issued two citations, according to CPD.
The suspect who allegedly opened fire on the agents and the Jeep he was driving have not been located.
However, people who live in the area are accusing federal agents of being aggressive.
Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward) said he asked agents for a warrant and identification after hearing they had tried to detain a man in a vehicle.
“When we reached here, an 11-year-old little girl was being dragged by these masked people and the neighbors were trying to surround her to ensure that they did not take her away,” he said.
Sigcho-Lopez said witnesses told him that agents broke a car window.
“Look what they’ve done to our community. It’s been sad since 10 in the morning. It’s outrageous,” he said.
Nexstar’s WGN-TV has contacted DHS on the incident involving the 11-year-old girl and is awaiting response.
Once federal agents cleared the area, protesters turned their attention to the remaining CPD officer who was controlling the crowd, yelling “shame” in his direction.
“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of violence and obstruction. Over the past two months, we have seen an increase in assaults and obstruction targeting federal law enforcement during operations. These confrontations highlight the threats our agents face daily and the increasing aggression toward law enforcement. The violence must end,” DHS said.
It has been two months since the Trump administration launched Operation Midway Blitz. People who live in this area said they have a lot to offer.
One protester said, “I’m asking them to decompress. I live here. My daughter goes to school here. We went shopping. We’re trying to shop. I went to Walgreens. Ridiculous, this is already enough. This needs to stop.”
It is not clear how many people were detained on Saturday.
No other information was released.
