CHICAGO (AP) — A high-speed chase involving Border Patrol agents led to the pursued person's arrest Tuesday afternoon in a residential street on Chicago's South Side, authorities reported, as footage from the scene captured a growing crowd of protesters before federal agents deployed tear gas to disperse them.
According to Department of Homeland Security officials, the incident began when a driver suspected of being in the country illegally rammed into a Border Patrol vehicle before fleeing. The agents pursued the vehicle until the driver stopped and attempted to escape on foot, leading to the suspect's arrest.
As the arrest unfolded, a crowd formed, prompting “crowd control methods” according to DHS representatives. The Chicago Police Department confirmed that federal agents used tear gas in the street. This tactic has reportedly been deployed on other residential streets recently.
Footage from ABC 7 shows protesters waving flags, while federal agents and local police attempted to hold back the crowd. Tear gas canisters were thrown into the area, causing chaos among the protesters.
Crowd control was severely criticized after 13 Chicago police officers were exposed to the tear gas during the altercation. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the federal agents’ treatment of protesters, labeling their conduct as “abominable” and expressing concern over the excessive force used against citizens peacefully expressing their rights.
Amid escalating tensions, activists have rallied in Springfield, demanding protection expansions associated with the state’s Trust Act which limits cooperation between local authorities and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
