Federal law enforcement agents used tear gas and pepper balls to disperse a group of about 100 protesters, including two Democratic congressional candidates, outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Chicago on Friday. The demonstrators had attempted to block government vehicles from entering or leaving the facility which has become a hub for immigration enforcement during a crackdown dubbed ‘Operation Midway Blitz’.
At least three protesters were arrested during the early-morning clashes, which saw masked Homeland Security agents in riot gear fire pepper balls from a rooftop and launch tear gas canisters. Kat Abughazaleh, a progressive candidate for Illinois’s ninth congressional district, was among those present and described being shoved to the ground by an agent. She later called the episode a ‘violent abuse of power’.
The Department of Homeland Security reposted video of the incident on X, captioning it: ‘Individuals and groups impeding ICE operations are siding with vicious cartels, human traffickers, and violent criminals.’ Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, who attended earlier but left before the tear gas was deployed, condemned the response, stating: ‘The fact that DHS responded with tear gas and by throwing protesters on the pavement tells you everything you need to know.’
Another arrest occurred when a protester was dragged inside the facility after picking up a tear gas canister that had fallen from an agent’s belt. Later, journalists observed protesters slashing a tyre of a minivan entering the building, and a female protester was arrested in front of media. Bushra Amiwala, another congressional candidate present, said there was ‘no justification’ for the violence against peaceful demonstrators.
The protest came as immigration enforcement in Chicago intensified following a Trump administration crackdown on Democratic cities. According to Associated Press figures, nearly 550 arrests have been made in the operation. Marcos Charles, acting head of ICE’s enforcement and removal operations, said: ‘We’re going to be conducting this operation until we feel that we’ve been successful. There’s not an end date in sight.’
