CHICAGO (AP) — Just before noon on a sunny Friday earlier this month, federal immigration agents threw tear gas canisters onto a busy Chicago street, just outside of an elementary school and a children’s play cafe.
Parents, teachers and caretakers rushed to shield children from the chaos, and have been grappling ever since with how to explain to them what they’d seen: how much to tell them so they know enough to stay safe, but not too much to rob them of their innocence.
Weeks later, families — even those not likely in danger of being rounded up in immigration raids — say they remain terrified it will happen again, demonstrating how fear seeps into every facet of American life when the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown disrupts a community.
Why did the agents tear gas a residential neighborhood?
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that Border Patrol agents were “impeded by protesters” during a targeted enforcement operation which resulted in the arrest of one individual.
This crackdown, referred to as “Operation Midway Blitz,” began early September. Agents in unmarked vehicles patrolled neighborhoods, leading residents to protest against what they felt was an invasion of their community.
DHS claimed its officers faced increased threats, stating, “This violence against law enforcement must END,” further emphasizing the need to enforce immigration laws.
Witnesses reported no warning was given prior to the tear gas deployment. Fifth-grade teacher Liza Oliva-Perez recounted being near the scene when the chaos erupted, expressing disbelief at the unfolding situation.
The incident has led to increased anxiety among local children who are now associating everyday sounds, like that of sirens, with fear and danger.
In the aftermath, community members rallied around families to help children feel safer and supported, with many parents voicing concerns about the long-term psychological impact of such traumatic experiences.
Teachers and local residents have since organized to monitor the area after school hours, determined to protect their children from future incidents.
