CHICAGO (AP) — A high-speed chase involving Border Patrol agents led to the pursued person’s arrest Tuesday afternoon on a residential street in Chicago's South Side, authorities said. The incident escalated as protesters gathered, prompting the deployment of tear gas by federal agents.
During an immigration enforcement operation, a driver, suspected of being in the country illegally, rammed into a Border Patrol vehicle before fleeing, according to officials. The subsequent chase ended when the driver stopped and attempted to escape on foot.
As federal agents executed the arrest, a crowd began to gather. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), they initiated “crowd control methods.” Chicago Police confirmed that tear gas was utilized in an effort to disperse the assembled protesters.
Footage from ABC 7 showed numerous protesters waving flags while federal agents and local police attempted to maintain control. Border Patrol agents were seen deploying tear gas canisters, which filled the street with a white haze, causing protesters to cough and retreat.
CPD officers were summoned following a 911 report of a collision involving federal authorities, with reports indicating that some members of the crowd began throwing objects at the agents. Notably, thirteen police officers were exposed to the tear gas.
Governor JB Pritzker condemned the actions of federal agents as “abominable,” declaring, “I’ve never seen it like this in the United States of America.” His comments reflect increasing concern over the handling of protests related to immigration enforcement across the city.
Protests against federal enforcement tactics have surged throughout Chicago, particularly outside a federal immigration facility in the western suburb of Broadview. Activists are advocating for the expansion of protections under the state’s Trust Act, which hinders collaboration between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
