Daijiworld Media Network – Chicago
Chicago, Oct 6: Chicago neighborhoods are witnessing intensified federal immigration operations, sparking widespread fear, protests, and legal challenges. Activists and residents say the tactics—ranging from helicopter raids on apartment complexes to the use of chemical agents near schools—are increasingly aggressive and disruptive.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the operations, stating on CNN, “They fire tear gas and smoke grenades, and they make it look like it's a war zone.” Since last month, over 1,000 immigrants have been arrested in the crackdown, with some US citizens and children among those detained.
In one high-profile incident on Chicago’s South Side, federal agents surrounded a five-story apartment building using unmarked trucks and a helicopter. Reports say agents rappelled from Black Hawk helicopters, went door-to-door waking residents, and used zip ties on occupants—including children and US citizens.
Local activist Dixon Romero said, “Everyone we talked to didn’t feel safe… This is not normal. It's not OK. It's not right.” Governor Pritzker has ordered state agencies to investigate claims of military-style tactics used on children.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials defended the raids, citing operations targeting the Tren de Aragua gang. Secretary Kristi Noem shared edited video clips of the operation, emphasizing the danger faced by agents and describing the situation as “treacherous.”
Tensions have also risen in Broadview, home to an immigration processing center, where federal agents have faced daily protests and lawsuits over safety and procedural concerns, including the installation of an 8-foot fence allegedly blocking fire access.
Meanwhile, the use of chemical agents near schools and handcuffing of Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes at a hospital have drawn criticism from local leaders and civil rights groups. State Representative Lilian Jiménez described the operations as “an invading army in our neighborhoods… a violation of constitutional rights.”
City officials have filed lawsuits seeking removal of the fence and are challenging alleged violations of a 2022 consent decree governing federal immigration arrests in Illinois. The escalating situation underscores growing community tensions amid federal efforts to boost deportations in the city and surrounding suburbs.