Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has ordered state agencies to investigate a recent immigration raid in Chicago, following allegations that children were zip-tied and separated from their parents. The raid, carried out by federal agents on 30 September, involved armed officers descending on an apartment building in the South Side of Chicago in the early hours of the morning.
Witnesses reported that agents broke down doors, dragged residents from their beds, and detained them for hours. Some children were allegedly left “nearly naked” and zip-tied, while elderly individuals were reportedly held in a U-Haul truck. Governor Pritzker condemned the use of “military-style tactics” on children, calling the reports “appalling”.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has denied the claims, describing them as “an abject lie”. A spokesperson said four US citizen children were taken into custody for their own safety and to ensure they were not being trafficked, and were later placed with a safe guardian or the state. The operation targeted members of the Tren de Aragua gang, with at least two confirmed members among the 37 people arrested.
President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to conduct immigration raids in Chicago, a so-called “sanctuary city”. Governor Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson have consistently opposed the administration’s tactics, with Pritzker accusing the federal government of seeking “mayhem on the ground”. The investigation will focus on the treatment of children and any violations of state law.
