MCKINLEY PARK — Immigration agents arrested a man after crashing into his car Monday, leading to a standoff with rapid responders that resulted in a tow truck driver who was called to the scene refusing to assist the agents.

At about 11:20 a.m. Monday, immigration agents driving a black SUV rammed their car into a blue pickup truck on the Stevenson Expressway’s (I-55) northbound exit ramp at Damen Avenue, said Ald. Julia Ramirez (12th) and state police.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained the man who had been driving the pickup truck, according to witnesses who reported that he was seen wearing construction work clothing. 

Trooper Jayme Bufford of the Illinois State Police confirmed state troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash, with ICE agents in one of the vehicles, at the I-55 northbound ramp to Damen Avenue. No injuries were reported and the ramp has since reopened, Bufford said Monday afternoon.

Rapid responders said they believed immigration agents followed the man, who has yet to be identified, from a Home Depot at 4555 S. Western Blvd. in Back of the Yards. The site has been a target for immigration arrests in recent weeks and at least one other person was detained there Monday morning, according to the Southwest Side Rapid Response Team’s social media accounts.

Neighbors celebrate after a tow truck leaves as they confront ICE and ERO federal agents in the 3100 block of South Wolcott Street after an apparent arrest attempt ended with a vehicle collision in McKinley Park on Aug. 24. 2026. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Neighbors confront ICE and ERO federal agents in the 3100 block of South Wolcott Street after an apparent arrest attempt ended with a vehicle collision in McKinley Park on Aug. 24. 2026. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

At around 1:15 p.m, neighbors and rapid responders gathered at West 33rd Street and South Wolcott Avenue, where state officials towed the immigration agents’ SUV that was involved in the crash, Ramirez said.

Organizers questioned why state authorities moved ICE’s vehicle to a neighborhood street instead, potentially prolonging their stay in the neighborhood.

“I find that very concerning. They should have taken it immediately to a federal center or to another law enforcement center so that it could be inventoried as evidence for the accident,” said attorney Brian Orozco.

Rapid responders also gathered in nearby blocks, blowing whistles and alerting neighbors of the presence of immigration agents, shouting “La migra esta aqui.” A rapid responder confronted an agent who said he’s hardworking and a neighbor yelled, “Are you proud of working hard to separate families and children?”

A tow truck eventually made its way to the scene to assist with the agents’ SUV, but the truck drove off from the scene after being the subject of boos and jeers from the crowd of neighbors and rapid responders.

As the truck drove off, leaving the agents’ SUV at the scene, those assembled at the scene chanted, “Who keeps us safe? We keep us safe.”

A second tow truck was called to the scene, leading to a skirmish among rapid responders, some of whom wanted to block the truck from assisting ICE. The tow truck made its way through the crowd and successfully towed away the ICE vehicle.

Immigration agents then left the scene.

Citing rapid response reports, Ramirez said agents also detained at least two people in West Lawn Monday.

Representatives for the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement didn’t immediately responds to requests for comment Monday.

Ramirez said today’s car crash brought back memories of when immigration agents rammed their car into Brighton Park neighbor Marimar Martinez’s car last fall. At the time, officials and neighbors gathered at the scene of the crash for hours without knowing agents had shot Martinez five times. As hours went by, tensions rose and immigration agents tear-gassed neighbors.

This time around, Ramirez said she felt a responsibility to get immigration agents to leave the neighborhood and keep neighbors safe, she said. Still, she questioned why their car was towed to a neighborhood street.

“It’s almost as if ICE agents are looking to create this chaos amongst people when things could be completely avoided, like by not moving that vehicle over here right into the community,” she said.

In a statement Monday evening, a spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office said that the Johnson administration urged all residents, “regardless of their immigration status, to remain vigilant.”

“Violent enforcement tactics that put our residents in danger have no place in Chicago and are antithetical to the commitment our administration has made to uphold Constitutional law enforcement practices,” the spokesperson said. 

Johnson’s office encouraged neighbors who observe criminal acts by federal agents to file police reports and to also report to the mayor’s office any civil immigration enforcement actions observed on city property.