Federal immigration agents clashed with local residents as they continued immigration enforcement operations across Chicago on Friday.
It came after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rejected a request from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to suspend operations in the Chicago area for the weekend’s Halloween celebrations, calling it “shameful.”
Chicago alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez told ABC7 that she believes agents “decided to come with a vengeance” because of the request.
Why It Matters
Chicago has been a key battleground in the national debate over immigration enforcement as the Trump administration continues a crackdown, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, 'that began in early September.
The crackdown has fueled fear among immigrant communities and as Halloween approached, concerns rose that immigration agents would target and arrest people out on the streets trick-or-treating with their children.
What To Know
Three U.S. citizens were arrested after a car rear-ended a vehicle driven by federal agents near an elementary school in Evanston, a suburb north of Chicago, on Friday.
Witnesses told ABC7 that a man and woman in a red car had been following federal agents to alert others of their presence when the agents slammed their brakes near the intersection of Oakton Street and Ashbury Avenue, causing the car to crash into the agents’ vehicle. Video obtained by the station shows agents tackling the man and woman to the ground, while another clip shows agents pull a weapon after members of a neighborhood patrol gathered.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told Newsweek that the Border Patrol agents had observed they were being "aggressively tailgated" and the red car crashed into as they tried to make a U-turn.
The spokesperson added that “a hostile crowd surrounded agents and their vehicle, and began verbally abusing them and spitting on them. As Border patrol arrested one individual, who actively resisted arrest, pepper spray was deployed to deter the agitator and disperse the crowd."
Another clash occurred in Albany Park, on Chicago’s Northwest Side, where a crowd gathered as agents detained two people, according to ABC7. Video obtained by the station shows one agent saying “that’s assault” after a woman is heard asking them what they are doing.
Rodriguez-Sanchez, whose office is nearby, came out to see what happened and at one point, agents were seen pushing the alderwoman. Newsweek has contacted Rodriguez-Sanchez for further comment via email.
A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek that as Border Patrol agents had been carrying out an operation resulting in the arrest of someone who was in the country illegally when they "were surrounded by a group of agitators who positioned their vehicle to impede law enforcement." The spokesperson said a U.S. citizen "struck an agent in the face," while another "jumped on an agent's back and spat."
Both were arrested for assault on a federal agent, the spokesperson said.
They added: "To safely clear the area after multiple warnings and the crowd continuing to advance on them, Border Patrol had to deploy crowd control measures. Chicago Police were called in by agents and arrived on the scene to help secure it."
What People Are Saying
Rodriguez-Sanchez told ABC7: "I think they decided to come with a vengeance, because they were asked to slow it down so the kids could have a joyful time. They decided to escalate it."
A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek: “Our officers are facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, abusers, and gang members. Secretary Noem’s message to the rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said at a news conference on Thursday: "We’re absolutely not willing to put on pause any work that we will do to keep communities safe. The fact that Gov. Pritzker is asking for that is shameful and, I think, unfortunate that he doesn’t recognize how important the work is that we do to make sure we’re bringing criminals to justice and getting them off our streets, especially when we’re going to send all of our kiddos out on the streets and going to events and enjoying the holiday season."
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker wrote on X on Friday: "Illinois families deserve to spend Halloween weekend without fear. No child should be forced to inhale tear gas or other chemical agents while trick-or-treating in their own neighborhood."
What’s Next
Federal immigration enforcement operations are expected to continue in the Chicago area and other major cities over the weekend.
Update 11/1/25, 12 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to add comments from a DHS spokesperson.
