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CHICAGO — In a dramatic incident on Chicago’s Southwest Side on Wednesday morning, a person was taken into custody following an alleged attempt to ram federal agents with a vehicle, according to Cicero police.
Officers were called to the scene at 26th Street and Ogden Avenue in the Little Village neighborhood around 11:15 a.m. to investigate a reported collision.
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The suspect, driving a blue GMC pickup truck, reportedly targeted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who were in a Chevy Silverado, Cicero police stated.
As the vehicles approached a red light at the intersection, the pickup driver sped through the light, subsequently crashing into a gray Toyota Corolla that was crossing the intersection, as per the police report.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in the incident.
Witnesses observed federal agents assisting the woman who was driving the Toyota sedan involved in the crash.
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The driver of the pickup was taken into custody by federal agents.
Chopper 7 was over the scene just after 11 a.m.
There were several unmarked vehicles in the intersection and a number of armed federal agents.
Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino was on the scene, as was Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez.
During the crash investigation, a crowd gathered and later dispersed peacefully, police said.
Roads were blocked in the area during the investigation. The scene was cleared about noon.
Cicero police are investigating the crash, and Customs and Border Patrol is handling the investigation into the alleged attempts to ram the vehicle.
Federal agents were also seen speeding through parts of Little Village, while also driving down the wrong direction on some one-way streets.
There were reports of federal agents detaining several people across Little Village Wednesday.
Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez, from the 22dn Ward, said in a statement:
“Today in the Little Village community, ICE/CBP detained at least 7 residents of our community. Several of those detained are U.S. citizens. In addition, they detained two members of my aldermanic staff, Jacqueline Lopez and Elianne Bahena, my chief of staff who also serves as an elected 10th District Police Commissioner. Both Ms. Bahena and Ms. Lopez are also U.S. citizens.
“All residents have the right to peacefully observe ICE/CBP activity. The federal government continues to claim that those who exercise their rights are breaking the law – these claims have been repeatedly proven as false.
“These federal agents are operating lawlessly, demonstrating utter disregard for our constitutional rights. I demand the immediate release of my staff members, as well as everyone else whose rights were abjectly violated by ICE/CBP agents in Little Village today.”
“Twenty sixth and Christiana, they crashed and left it in the middle of the street, chased someone out of the vehicle. They kept doing that. They detained someone right here outside of businesses, at least two people,” Sigcho-Lopez said.
Sigcho-Lopez says he tried confronting Bovino about enforcement in Chicago.
“I asked him directly: ‘You continue to defy judges’ orders.’ He had nothing to say,” Sigcho-Lopez said.
Local elected officials and community organizers held a press conference late Wednesday afternoon, speaking out against ICE operations.
“It’s with this unity that I come here and demand my staff by returned to me, that my neighbors be returned. This isn’t justice; this is fear mongering,” Rodriguez said.
“Kids are getting off of school right now, and they’re living in a terrorist zone, not because of our community, but because of federal government that is choosing to trample over the constitution of this country,” said state Sen. Celina Villanueva, a Democrat representing the 12th District.
Some other incidents were caught on camera: Near 26th and Spaulding Avenue, federal agents were patrolling the area and detained at least one person.
There was more of the same near 29th Street and Cicero Avenue, where another person was detained by federal agents. And the operations continued near 31st Street and Pulaski Road, where ICE detained at least one other person.
“They don’t care. These people are unhinged, and they’re violating our constitution on a daily basis. We’ve gotta get them out of here,” Sigcho-Lopez said. “We know one of them is a worker in one of our businesses. These people are not criminals; these are people who come to work despite all the challenges just to be terrorized by these mercenaries.”
Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García said in a statement:
“What happened in our community today was state-sponsored terrorism. Masked Gestapo, led by Gregory Bovino, conducted their campaign just a block from my home, and at other locations in Little Village and Cicero. They abducted community members, U.S. Citizens, one of whom is a local elected official, and government staff. Their reckless operatives once again endangered innocent lives with chemical agents, violent aggressions, and high-speed chases through our neighborhoods that ended in yet another car wreck in our streets.
“The Federal Government is assaulting our city and our neighborhoods. For 6 weeks, my community has been the epicenter of this administration’s brutal attacks. Our community is organized, and dozens of courageous civilian members of Rapid Response teams gathered quickly, blowing whistles to alert others to the presence of masked agents. My office is in contact with other local leaders and resistance networks, and we will provide support to identify and assist the people who have been taken. In Chicago, we take care of our own. ¡Chicago se defiende!”
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Chicago operations Wednesday.
Bovino spoke on Fox News Wednesday afternoon, defending the safety of operations in Chicago.
