Federal agents deployed tear gas into a crowd that gathered during an immigration operation that spanned hours in suburban Elgin Saturday.
Around 9:15 a.m., Elgin Police Department was contacted by a federal agent to report that they were involved in a traffic crash on the 1600 block of West Highland Avenue. Police said the agent reported the crash occurred during immigration enforcement activities in the area and a person fled from one of the vehicles involved in the crash toward Maple Lane.
Police said they generated a report for the crash and cleared the scene.
Shortly after, around 10 a.m., police said they received a report that masked people were on a property on the 1600 block of Maple Lane stating they had a warrant. Police said they responded to the area, found federal law enforcement agents on scene, and cleared the area.
Then, around 12:22 p.m., a several reports of shots fired on the 1600 block of South Maple involving federal agents were made to police. Elgin officers who responded to the area determined no shots were fired; however, they did find that the federal agents had dispersed chemical irritants.
As of 3 p.m., live streamed video on social media showed agents and a large crowd still present on the 1600 block of South Maple.
Video posted to social media from neighbors and witnesses show a large crowd gathering around the federal agents, including many who were displaying firearms.
A person can be seen laying face-down on the snow-covered ground while several federal agents attempt to physically restrain them. Video also showed at least one person that gathered at the scene throwing snowballs at the agents on top of the man, and in return agents can be seen then deploying tear gas at the crowd.
Seven people were treated by police for exposure to the chemical irritants with the help of Elgin Fire Department and released on scene, authorities said.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s request for comment.
Witnesses claimed in posts on social media that at least one person was detained by the agents, however, that information was not confirmed by police or Homeland Security.
Approximately 30 calls were placed to the Elgin police department’s emergency communications center regarding the incidents, police said.
“The Elgin Police Department will continue to respond to any calls for service and determine the appropriate action within the parameters of the Illinois Trust Act which prohibits Elgin officers from assisting with federal immigration enforcement operations,” police said in a post on Facebook.
The immigration activity comes weeks after federal operations in the Chicago area began slowing down following over two months of aggressive enforcement termed “Operation Midway Blitz.”
On Nov. 14, North Chicago officials said Department of Homeland Security left the staging base they had used for almost two months at the Naval Station Great Lakes, and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino left Chicago for “Operation Charlotte’s Web” in Charlotte, North Carolina.
However, when asked if agents were leaving the Chicago area, DHS said they don’t forecast operations, and enforcement will continue in Illinois.
Enforcement tactics, including use of chemical agents, by federal agents throughout Operation Midway Blitz have led to several lawsuits.
A group of protesters, clergy and journalists are currently suing the federal government over alleged excessive and “indiscriminate” use of tear gas and pepper spray during Operation Midway Blitz.
During a preliminary injunction hearing in early November, an attorney representing the group argued federal agents repeatedly used tear gas and pepper spray against non-violent protesters, clergy or members of the press.
While acknowledging that some individuals may have slashed tires of agents’ vehicles or thrown objects, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Craig Futterman, argued they’ve been met with “brutal violence” by the same federal government tasked with protecting their constitutional rights.
Sarmad M Khojasteh, an attorney representing the federal government, told the judge overseeing the lawsuit that she should “reject the notion that first amendment sanitizes the violence” that agents saw and experienced during Operation Midway Blitz, saying agents’ lives have been threatened.
Hence then, the article about federal agents deploy tear gas as crowd gathers during operation in elgin was published today ( ) and is available on NBC Chicago ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Federal agents deploy tear gas as crowd gathers during operation in Elgin )
Also on site :