Man opens fire on Border Patrol agents in Chicago amid Trump's immigration crackdown—What we know

A man in Chicago opened fire on US Border Patrol agents amid Donald Trump's immigration crackdown on Saturday, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Chicago Police Department mentioned that no one was injured.

DHS stated that the suspect, driving a black Jeep, is still at large, while Chicago police said officers responded to reports of gunfire and secured the scene.

The Chicago Police said in a statement, “There are no reports of anyone struck by gunfire.”

The incident occurred on Saturday in Chicago’s Little Village neighbourhood amid protests following federal immigration raids. A Reuters witness mentioned that seeing police detain a man who had been arguing with residents after an immigration raid. DHS stated that “agitators” threw a paint can and bricks at Border Patrol vehicles during the operations.

‘Increase in assaults, obstruction targeting law enforcement' during ops over 2 months

DHS mentioned, “Today, U.S. Border Patrol was conducting immigration enforcement operations near 26th Street and Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, when an unknown male driving a black Jeep fired shots at agents and fled the scene. An unknown number of agitators also threw a paint can and bricks at Border Patrol’s vehicles. Chicago Police Department was called for assistance and cleared the scene. The shooter and vehicle remain at large, and this is a dynamic situation."

It added, “This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of violence and obstruction. Over the past two months, we’ve seen an increase in assaults and obstruction targeting federal law enforcement during operations. These confrontations highlight the dangers our agents face daily and the escalating aggression toward law enforcement. The violence must end.”

Immigration raids across Chicago and nearby suburbs, comprising one at a daycare center earlier this week, have sparked protests and violent arrests, as per the report.

On Friday, over a dozen suburban Chicago mothers were arrested outside an immigration detention facility in Broadview, a suburb west of Chicago that has become a focal point of anger over Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz.” The immigration crackdown in Chicago, which began in September, was officially aimed at targeting dangerous criminals without legal status in the US. According to DHS, it has led to over 3,000 arrests, comprising some of US citizens and individuals with no criminal record.

(With inputs from Reuters)