Federal officials say a man in a black Jeep opened fire on U.S. Border Patrol agents during immigration enforcement operations in Chicago’s Little Village on Saturday; no injuries were reported and the suspect remained at large as of Monday.
Federal and local authorities say shots were fired at U.S. Border Patrol agents around 26th Street and Kedzie Avenue on November 8 during immigration enforcement operations in Chicago’s Little Village, a predominantly Mexican American neighborhood. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said an unidentified man driving a black Jeep fired at agents and fled. DHS also said people nearby threw a paint can and bricks at federal vehicles as Chicago police moved in to secure the scene. No injuries were reported. (apnews.com)
Cellphone video from the corridor showed tense confrontations between residents and agents, with chemical irritants deployed, and Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino present at the scene. (nbcchicago.com)
Contrary to some reports, authorities had not announced an arrest as of Monday. DHS’s weekend statements said the shooter and vehicle remained at large, a status echoed by Chicago police and multiple news outlets. The Daily Wire reported on Monday that an undocumented Mexican national with prior convictions had been arrested in connection with the gunfire, but DHS did not issue a public release naming a suspect and major outlets continued to report no arrest. (apnews.com)
DHS characterized the incident on X as “not isolated,” citing what it called a recent rise 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 department wrote. (upi.com)
The confrontations came amid weeks of heightened immigration enforcement in the Chicago area under Operation Midway Blitz, which has drawn persistent protests and legal scrutiny over agents’ tactics. A federal judge recently tightened restrictions on the use of force and ordered daily reporting by Border Patrol leadership, while news footage and court filings show Bovino using chemical agents in earlier clashes. (nbcchicago.com)
Context: The Laken Riley Act, signed into law on January 29, 2025, requires federal detention of certain noncitizens arrested or charged with specified offenses, including theft-related crimes and assault on a law enforcement officer. Authorities have not said whether that law applies in this case. (whitehouse.gov)
DHS and other outlets say the Chicago operation began in September and has fueled public outcry after thousands of arrests, including some involving U.S. citizens and people without criminal records, alongside arrests of individuals with criminal histories. (reuters.com)
