Man opens fire on US Border Patrol agents during immigration raid in Chicago

Man opens fire at immigration officers in Chicago amid raid, says US government

A man in Chicago opened fire on U.S. Border Patrol agents during an immigration enforcement operation on Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said. The suspect, who was driving a black Jeep, managed to flee the scene and remains at large.

The Chicago Police Department responded to reports of shots being fired and secured the area. “There are no reports of anyone struck by gunfire,” the department said in a statement.

The shooting occurred in the Little Village neighborhood during protests against ongoing immigration raids by federal agents. A Reuters witness saw police detaining a man after an argument with residents following one such raid.

Following the shooting, a group of people threw a paint can and bricks at border patrol vehicles, DHS said. FOX 32 Chicago reported that a flash bang was deployed as crowds surrounded federal agents for multiple blocks.

DHS said “agitators” threw a paint can and bricks at Border Patrol vehicles during Saturday’s operations. “Over the past two months, we’ve seen an increase in assaults and obstruction targeting federal law enforcement,” the agency said in a statement posted on X.

Raids have been carried out across Chicago and nearby suburbs, including one at a daycare centre earlier this week. The operations have sparked protests and, at times, violent confrontations.

On Friday, more than a dozen suburban Chicago mothers were arrested outside an immigration detention facility in Broadview, a suburb west of the city that has become a flashpoint for anger over Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz.”

The immigration crackdown, which began in September, aims to target dangerous criminals living in the U.S. illegally. However, DHS said the operation has resulted in more than 3,000 arrests, including U.S. citizens and individuals with no criminal history.

At least one person was detained during Friday’s demonstrations, according to local reports.

City Alderman Michael Rodriguez of the 22nd Ward posted a video on Facebook accusing agents of “causing all sorts of mayhem.”

“They’re doing things that are unconstitutional, that are illegal,” Rodriguez said. “They are causing fear and mayhem in our communities, and that's unacceptable.”