CHICAGO (WLS) — Federal immigration agents swarmed downtown Chicago on Sunday afternoon, detaining multiple people.
One such incident was caught on camera near Millennium Park, where Border Patrol agents appeared to detain a family, including a woman and multiple children. Agents also detained another man in River North outside of Catholic Charities, near LaSalle and Clark.
These actions were part of numerous sightings of Border Patrol agents throughout Sunday, who were seen patrolling on foot and by boat along the Chicago River.
“It’s a lot of places that can use some armor and some help, and I’m pretty sure walking down the street of Michigan Avenue is not the place for that type of armor,” said Robina Muhammed.
### Lawmakers and Community Leaders Respond
Lawmakers and community leaders held a press conference Sunday afternoon to speak out against the federal escalation.
“They showed up downtown to indiscriminately continue to profile against people just because of what they look like,” said Democratic Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.
“How dare you. This is our city. This is our state. This is our country. This is our home,” added Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Deputy Director Veronica Castro.
The group vowed to mobilize and protect communities against what they call fear and intimidation tactics.
### Federal Officials Stand Firm
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is making its own vow. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted on social media, stating in part: “DHS under @Sec_Noem, will NOT back down. We will not rest until every violent terrorist, thug is arrested. @POTUS Trump and @Sec_Noem will return LAW AND ORDER to our streets.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responded on X, saying, “This is another brazen provocation from the Trump administration that does nothing to make our city safer.”
In a formal statement, Mayor Johnson said:
> “There are reports of federal agents in downtown Chicago carrying weapons and wearing masks. On a Sunday afternoon, when people are out enjoying the weather and shopping, the Department of Homeland Security is militarizing our city. This is not about safety. It’s meant to intimidate and stoke fear. This also coincides with ICE agents sparking panic and creating chaos while continuing to tear gas and pepper spray people who are exercising their First Amendment rights at the Broadview facility. Stay alert, and stay safe, Cook County. Remember to Know Your Rights.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also issued a statement regarding the enforcement:
> “The Trump Administration’s DHS officers appear to be carrying large weapons around downtown Chicago in camouflage and masks. This is not making anybody safer — it’s a show of intimidation, instilling fear in our communities and hurting our businesses. We cannot normalize militarizing American cities and suburbs. Make sure you know your rights and stay alert.”
### Broadview Police Investigate Attack on Reporter Near ICE Facility
Broadview police have launched a criminal investigation into what they describe as “an allegedly unprovoked attack” on a journalist near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.
Officials reported that a chemical munition was fired from the direction of the ICE facility at a CBS TV news reporter’s vehicle. The reporter declined medical attention.
Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills said in a statement:
> “The Village of Broadview Police Department has launched a criminal investigation into an allegedly unprovoked attack on a CBS Chicago TV news reporter’s vehicle by a chemical munition fired from the direction of the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement detention facility. The victim declined medical attention. The Broadview Police Department expects the full cooperation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security into our criminal investigation.”
### Protests Continue at Broadview ICE Facility
Protests outside the Broadview ICE facility have been ongoing for several days. Demonstrators returned Sunday night to make their voices heard.
Sunday’s atmosphere was calmer than Saturday night’s escalation, which ABC7 crews witnessed. Beach Street was reopened, allowing protesters to be close to the facility’s fence again. There were also noticeably fewer federal agents present compared to Saturday.
Protest organizers rebuilt a tent and moved it further away from the facility after federal agents tore down their belongings on Saturday night and deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd. The tent was used to collect donations to help families impacted by ICE operations, much of which was ruined during the Saturday escalation.
“To see everything go to waste, this is people’s hard-earned money that are willing to help us out in any way, and it just went to waste,” said protester Maria.
The presence of Border Patrol and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents has lessened since Saturday. Protesters vow to continue showing up as the Trump administration targets the Chicagoland area with federal operations.
“I don’t think it’s gonna stop. The more they push, we’re gonna push, and you know, we want to make this as peaceful as possible, but they’re not making it peaceful,” Maria said.
### Loved Ones Join Protests
Alongside protesters, loved ones of people detained by ICE have also gathered outside the Broadview facility.
Natalie Mirenda stood with the crowd Sunday night after witnessing her father’s detention in Downers Grove earlier that day.
“I saw a bunch of people and guns, and I ran out and realized it was ICE, and they already had him going in the car,” Mirenda said.
“He’s a really hard worker. He’s never had a single ticket. He’s never been pulled over. He’s not a criminal. He has no criminal record at all.”
Mirenda described the experience as devastating for her family, with little information coming from ICE officials.
“We’re devastated. My sister is out here protesting with me, and we can’t do anything but just stand here and hope everything turns out good. It’s crazy,” she said. “You never know what happens until it literally happens to you. It’s crazy.”
### Increased Federal Focus on Chicago
The Trump administration is committing more federal resources to Chicago and officials have stated they will have zero tolerance for any interference with ICE operations.
President Donald Trump posted on social media Sunday, referencing Chicago with a video showing escalations between protesters and federal agents in Broadview.
### Protests Against Immigration Enforcement in Chicago
The Indivisible Chicago Alliance, a grassroots organization opposing the Trump administration’s policies, organized events across the city on Sunday.
Before the federal show of force downtown, dozens of people gathered across Chicago’s North and Northwest sides for a day of action.
“We think it’s important that we show the majority of us are opposed to what Trump is doing. We’re opposed to ICE. We’re opposed to the militarization of our cities,” said protester Geri Kahn.
Protesters, many members of Indivisible Chicago, spread out from Irving Park and Lake Shore Drive in Buena Park to Welles Park in North Center, receiving support from passing motorists.
“We want to make a big statement that the American people, the majority of the American people, are not with the Trump administration,” said protester John Bachtell.
In Humboldt Park, protesters focused on encouraging voter turnout in key states.
“Our actions for today are writing postcards to voters in Virginia to remind them to get out and vote because they have a really important Supreme Court election coming up,” said Kristen Vandawalker with Indivisible Chicago Northwest.
This effort aims to engage people politically, even in a strongly blue state, by supporting important elections elsewhere.
“Sometimes people feel like they can only take so much action or have so much impact within the state, so it’s good to have, hey there is something really important happening in Pennsylvania we can help with or Virginia or whatever,” said Jessica Jorsch with Indivisible Chicago Northwest.
### Looking Ahead
Sunday’s actions serve as a prelude to a large-scale “No Kings” protest expected on Saturday, October 18, in Grant Park.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chicago-today-federal-immigration-agents-border-patrol-boat-seen-downtown-live/17899424/