CHICAGO (WGN) — A chase involving Border Patrol agents ended in a crash Tuesday afternoon in the East Side neighborhood on Chicago’s Southeast Side, sparking a tense standoff between residents and law enforcement.
The situation began after a person, suspected of being in the country illegally by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), allegedly rammed a Border Patrol vehicle with a red SUV and attempted to flee.
A pursuit was initiated for about 30 minutes and a DHS vehicle performed a PIT maneuver, bringing the SUV to a stop. Two people inside the SUV began to flee on foot but were eventually caught and taken into custody.
As news of Border Patrol activity in the area spread, DHS says a crowd began to form nearby in the 10500 block of South Avenue N.
At around 12:39 p.m., officers with the Chicago Police Department responded to the scene when they realized federal authorities were involved.
A minute later, two small bottles were observed being thrown toward a law enforcement vehicle and a large amount of tear gas was subsequently deployed.
That cleared the protestors and SkyCam9 later observed some putting water in their eyes.
An individual at the scene, who wanted to remain anonymous, said two U.S. citizens, a 16-year-old and a 19-year-old, were detained even though they did not throw any objects.
“As the tear gas was thrown into the community members, we all ran. They attacked two people that I know because they were close,” she said.
SkyCam9 observed what looked like two small objects, like eggs, being thrown toward law enforcement earlier at around 12:25 p.m.
Police responded by moving toward protestors and some ran away with smoke being deployed.
Juanita Garnica says she was at work when she got a call saying Border Patrol agents had taken her 16-year-old son.
“They said, ‘Juanita you have an emergency. ICE took your son. They beat him up. They body-slammed him,'” Garnica said.
A woman named Yarelly, who did not wish to provide her last name, was documenting everything with her friends. She says her 19-year-old brother-in-law named Warren was grabbed by one agent and slammed to the ground, as she repeatedly yelled he’s a U.S. citizen.
From there, Warren says he was taken downtown and then brought to Calumet Park for an unknown reason. His family was tracking his location and showed up with his birth certificate to prove he is a citizen.
Warren was released from custody without charges.
“It don’t make sense to me. People are trying to build their lives here and they’re trying to take that away from people,” he said.
Immigration attorneys arrived in the aftermath of the incident and advised that the best thing people can do is know their rights and record everything on their phones. They say the response by federal agents was excessive.
“The judge last week made it very clear that this conduct is unacceptable,” said Berto Aguayo of the Latino Leadership Council.
WGN News learned Chicago police originally responded to a call of a crash at the scene just after 11:05 a.m. and one white SUV was towed.
They confirmed tear gas was deployed by federal agents after the objects were thrown at them. CPD said 13 officers were exposed to tear gas. Their full statement is below.
“Chicago Police Department officers responded to the 10500 block of S. Avenue N at approximately 11:07 a.m. for a call of an auto accident involving federal authorities. CPD was not involved in any of the federal operations occurring at that location. Upon arrival to the scene, officers documented the traffic crash. Because this incident involved federal authorities, additional CPD supervisors responded to the scene to ensure the appropriate course of action was taken. A crowd began to form and as federal authorities were leaving the scene, CPD members attempted to de-escalate the situation for the safety of everyone, including community members who were gathering at the location. Individuals then began throwing objects at the federal agents, at which point the federal agents deployed tear gas into the street. Thirteen CPD members were exposed to the tear gas. Exposure reports will be completed for all CPD members who were exposed to the tear gas.
The Department of Homeland Security’s full statement is below.
“This morning while conducting an immigration enforcement operation in Chicago a vehicle, driven by an illegal alien, rammed a Border Patrol vehicle and attempted to flee the scene. Border Patrol pursued the vehicle and was eventually able to stop it utilizing an authorized precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver. Once the vehicle was stopped, the suspects, who are both illegal aliens, attempted to flee on foot. As Border Patrol arrested the subjects and attempted to secure the scene a crowd began to form and eventually turned hostile and eventually crowd control measures were used.
This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. The fact that this attack was carried out by two illegal immigrants, highlights the need for federal law enforcement to continue to do their job of enforcing the laws of our nation — all while receiving no pay thanks to the Democrats’ government shutdown.”
State senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) said he’s monitoring the situation and released the following statement.
“I am monitoring the situation between federal agents and bystanders in my district. Using a chemical agent to disperse a crowd is unjust. No person should be targeted by the color of their skin and no group should be attacked for standing up for what is right. Let me be clear: Now is not the time for hate and divisiveness. Now is the time to stand united as a community and to protect our neighbors.”
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