Politics

Federal Agents Deploy Tear Gas Against Crowd on Chicago’s Southeast Side

Federal immigration agents deployed tear gas on Chicago’s Southeast Side Tuesday morning after a crowd gathered at the scene of a car crash involving those agents.

The Chicago Police Department on Tuesday confirmed federal immigration agents utilized tear gas after people in a crowd at the scene allegedly began throwing items at the agents in the 10500 block of South Avenue N just after 11 a.m.

“A crowd began to form and as federal authorities were leaving the scene, CPD members attempted to de-escalate the situation for the safety of everyone, including community members who were gathering at the location,” the police department said in a statement. “Individuals then began throwing objects at the federal agents, at which point the federal agents deployed tear gas into the street.”

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security claimed the collision occurred after a vehicle driven by someone they claim to be an undocumented resident “rammed a Border Patrol vehicle and attempted to flee the scene.”

Border Patrol agents eventually stopped that vehicle and two people were detained from inside. DHS said as those arrests were made, “a crowd began to form and eventually turned hostile and eventually crowd control measures were used.”

The Southeast Side Rapid Response team, which monitors Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, said at least three people were detained from the area of the crash.

According to the CPD, 13 officers were exposed to the tear gas, though the department did not state how many people in the crowd were also affected. The department said it will complete exposure reports “for all CPD members who were exposed to the tear gas.”

Last week, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis issued a temporary restraining order barring the use of tear gas and other “riot control weapons” against protesters and reporters who don’t pose an immediate threat to the safety of law enforcement.

Under the order, agents are also supposed to give two verbal warnings before dispersing tear gas.

Federal agents also used tear gas Sunday afternoon in the Albany Park neighborhood on the city’s Northwest Side when a group of people confronted agents’ vehicles. 

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