CHICAGO (AP) — A high-speed chase involving Border Patrol agents led to the pursued person’s arrest Tuesday afternoon in a residential street on Chicago's South Side, authorities reported, with footage from the scene showing protesters gathering before agents deployed tear gas to disperse them.
During an immigration enforcement operation, a driver suspected of being in the country illegally rammed into a Border Patrol vehicle and fled. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the agents chased the vehicle until the driver stopped and attempted to escape on foot.
As agents arrested the individual, a crowd began to form, prompting DHS officials to state that “crowd control methods were used.” Chicago Police confirmed that federal agents deployed tear gas, a method recently employed in other Chicago neighborhoods.
Footage captured by ABC 7 reveals dozens of protesters waving flags while federal agents and local police attempted to hold them back. The air was filled with white haze as tear gas canisters were thrown into the crowd, causing panic among demonstrators.
CPD officers arrived after a 911 call about an accident involving federal authorities. Reports indicated that some in the crowd began hurling objects at agents. A total of 13 officers experienced exposure to tear gas during the confrontation.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the aggressive response from federal agents, highlighting the inappropriate use of tear gas, pepper pellets, and rubber bullets on protesters merely expressings their views. I’ve never seen it like this in the United States of America, he stated.
Community members have also voiced distress over the use of tear gas, with individuals recounting experiences of being caught in the gas cloud while merely trying to conduct daily activities. Protests against federal immigration enforcement actions in Chicago have escalated, often centered around a federal immigration facility in Broadview, with demonstrators following federal vehicles.
Meanwhile, immigration rights activists rallied in Springfield, advocating for the expansion of protections under the state’s Trust Act to enhance “sanctuary city” policies to shield residents from ICE.
