A high-speed pursuit involving U.S. Border Patrol agents ended in chaos Tuesday afternoon when federal officers deployed tear gas to disperse protesters gathered on a residential street on Chicago’s South Side, authorities confirmed.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the incident began when federal agents conducting an immigration enforcement operation attempted to stop a driver suspected of being in the country illegally. The suspect allegedly rammed a Border Patrol vehicle before fleeing, triggering a chase that ended in his arrest after he tried to escape on foot.
As agents detained the suspect, a crowd quickly formed, prompting what DHS described as “crowd control measures.” Chicago Police Department (CPD) officials later confirmed that federal agents deployed tear gas into the street to scatter protesters. At least 13 Chicago police officers were reportedly exposed to the gas.
Footage aired by ABC 7 Chicago showed dozens of protesters waving flags as federal and local officers blocked access to the street. Border Patrol agents were seen launching tear gas canisters that filled the area with thick white smoke as demonstrators coughed and fled.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker condemned the use of force, calling the agents’ actions “abominable.”
“Protesters were hit with tear gas, pepper pellets, and rubber bullets while simply expressing themselves,” Pritzker said. “I’ve never seen anything like this in the United States of America.”
The incident follows several similar confrontations between federal agents and demonstrators across Chicago in recent weeks. Earlier this month, agents reportedly fired tear gas near a grocery store on the city’s West Side, affecting bystanders and schoolchildren during recess.
Witness Andrew Denton, who was caught in that earlier incident, described the recurring crackdowns as “a sad reflection of how this administration treats Chicago’s communities.”
Protests over the federal immigration crackdown have spread throughout the city, often targeting federal facilities in Broadview and other suburbs. Immigration activists also rallied Tuesday in Springfield, calling for expanded protections under Illinois’ Trust Act, which limits local cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Authorities say investigations are ongoing into several related cases, including a recent grand jury indictment against two individuals accused of attacking a Border Patrol agent’s vehicle during a prior protest.
As tensions continue to escalate, community leaders warn that heavy-handed enforcement risks inflaming already fragile relations between residents and federal authorities.
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