CHICAGO — Growing unease surrounds federal activities in the Chicago region, following recent incidents that have drawn significant attention.
Footage released on Sunday by ABC News captures a moment where federal agents are seen smashing a car window and arresting a driver in Addison, raising questions and concerns among residents and officials.
In a separate incident on Chicago’s Northwest Side, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security addressed reports involving federal agents allegedly using tear gas. This has added to the escalating tension regarding federal operations in the area.
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The unsettling scene in Addison was captured by the manager of La Huerta grocery store. She recounted to ABC News how agents pursued the driver into her parking area before proceeding to break the vehicle’s window and detain the driver along with two others. She noted, however, that the driver was eventually released.
In response to these events, the mayor of Addison issued a statement emphasizing that the local police department does not collaborate with federal agencies on immigration enforcement activities, seeking to reassure the community of their stance.
Addison’s mayor reiterated in a statement that the village’s police department does not assist with federal immigration operations.
ABC7 Chicago reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for more on the Addison incident.
On Saturday, federal agents deployed what appeared to be tear gas in Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood.
DHS is once again defending their agents actions, saying they were acting in self-defense when they lobbed tear gas onto a residential street in Old Irving Park on Saturday. The man they were after, they say, had previously been arrested for assault.
Cell phone video showed the moment Border Patrol agents deployed tear gas on North Kildare Avenue near Waveland. It happened after residents who were outraged by the arrest of construction worker Luis Villegas came out to protest the immigration enforcement agents presence in their neighborhood.
“It was horrific. It is traumatic,” resident Melanie Franke said. “It is not anything that anyone should be subjected to.”
Responding to the incident on Sunday, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the use of tear gas, saying in part, “Border Patrol agents were surrounded and boxed in by a group of agitators. Federal law enforcement issued multiple lawful commands and verbal warnings, all of which were ignored… Border Patrol had to deploy crowd control measures.”
The statement however runs contrary to what others in the neighborhood, including what resident and former Cook County prosecutor Brian Kolp saw and heard.
“They deployed the smoke canister, the one I showed you a picture of, with no audible warning whatsoever,” Kolp said.
The distinction is crucial. As district court Judge Sarah Ellis gets ready to question Border Patrol Commander at large Gregory Bovino on Tuesday, the public face of “Operation Midway Blitz” was himself photographed hauling a tear gas canister at protesters in Little Village last week. Ellis, who is presiding over an ongoing lawsuit regarding the feds’ treatment of protesters, has forbidden agents from deploying chemical agents indiscriminately, and without at least two prior warnings.
“There are going to be pointed questions from Judge Ellis about whether or not he understood what her order is, or whether or not he complied with her order and if he didn’t why not?” former federal prosecutor Christopher Hotaling said.
And because Ellis has also ordered all agents with body worn cameras to activate them, Hotaling says finding out who is telling the truth during these now routine tear gas deployments should not be difficult, if the cameras were rolling.
“She could ask for all the body cam footage,” Hotaling said. “The option is contempt. She could pursue contempt proceedings against Mr. Bovino for willfully violating her order.”
Homeland Security’s McLaughlin said of Bovino’s upcoming testimony last week, the agency can think of no better person to correct what they believe are the judge’s deep misconceptions about their mission in Chicago.
A statement from DHS on the incident involving Bovino claims that he was hit on the head by rocks and other objects being thrown at agents during the Little Village confrontation. A court filing by plaintiffs’ lawyers Sunday called that statement a lie.
DHS comments on Friday’s North Side operations
The Department of Homeland Security also responded after tear gas was deployed Friday during an immigration operation on Chicago’s North Side. It happened at Henderson and Lakewood.
DHS says “agitators” swarmed federal agents and impeded operations, and when agents used crowd control measures, people threw objects at them. That’s when tear gas was used.
Agents detained at least one construction worker. ABC7 blurred that person’s face in a video of their detainment because it’s unclear if any charges were filed.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson issued a statement on Saturday, saying, “Border Patrol agents were swarmed by agitators during enforcement operations near Lakewood Avenue in Chicago. The agitators obstructed federal law enforcement and ignored multiple warnings to disperse and continued to impede operations, including trying to deflate a vehicles tire. Agents deployed crowd control measures to disperse the crowd and agitators began throwing objects at them. To protect themselves, the Border Patrol deployed additional to safely clear the area.
Our officers are facing a surge in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, and gang members. Secretary Noem’s message to the rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down. CBP and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Border Patrol agents repeated multiple warnings to back up and that chemical agents would be deployed if warnings were ignored. Riot control measures were deployed, including by Chief Bovino, and arrests were made. Agents properly used their training. The use of chemical munitions was conducted in full accordance with CBP policy and was necessary to ensure the safety of both law enforcement and the public.”
