Federal Immigration Agents Increase Aggressive Tactics in Chicago

Thu Oct 16 2025 22:17:35 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In Chicago, recent operations by federal immigration agents are causing tensions and fear among residents. Activists report that these aggressive tactics include helicopter deployments, chemical agents near schools, and unlawful detentions, sparking calls for investigations.

Federal immigration agents in Chicago have escalated their tactics, deploying helicopters in nighttime raids and using chemical agents in public areas. Over 1,000 immigrants have been arrested, including U.S. citizens and children. Activists and state officials express concern over safety and the constitutionality of these operations as tensions rise in immigrant communities.

Associated Press (AP) — In a climate of increasing tensions, federal immigration agents have intensified their operations in Chicago, employing aggressive tactics that have alarmed residents and activists alike. Nighttime raids utilizing helicopters and the deployment of chemical agents have recently spotlighted the confrontations between authorities and communities.

“These operations are turning neighborhoods into war zones,” said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker during a CNN interview. His comments came amid reports of over 1,000 arrests linked to an immigration crackdown that began last month in the Chicago area.

In one incident, federal agents stormed an apartment complex on the South Side, where 37 immigrants were detained while families slept. Witnesses recounted how agents rappelled from helicopters and used zip ties to restrain residents, including children and U.S. citizens.

“They knocked on doors and broke them off their hinges,” reported Dixon Romero from Southside Together. “Everyone we spoke to expressed feelings of insecurity. This level of aggression is unacceptable.”

The operation, carried out by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has received significant backlash; community leaders have called for investigations into the conduct of agents, particularly regarding allegations that children were separated from their parents during detentions.

Meanwhile, the use of chemical agents, initially aimed at managing protests, has surged. An emergency hotline established for reporting immigrant agent activities registered over 800 calls from concerned citizens on a day when agents used chemicals near a public school, prompting safety concerns for students.

As federal officials defend their actions as necessary for safety, Chicago residents and leaders express growing fears and challenge the legality of such aggressive tactics. The situation presents a complex intersection of immigration laws, community safety, and human rights, leading some cities to pursue legal action against federal agents operating in their jurisdictions.