{"id":429891,"date":"2025-12-07T00:32:51","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T00:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/429891\/"},"modified":"2025-12-07T00:32:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T00:32:51","slug":"on-day-of-kristi-noem-visit-immigration-agents-tear-gas-elgin-crowd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/429891\/","title":{"rendered":"On day of Kristi Noem visit, immigration agents tear gas Elgin crowd"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Federal immigration agents deployed tear gas and pepper spray Saturday on a crowd that gathered to protest a prolonged arrest in a northwest Chicago suburb, angering neighbors who said it was \u201cuncalled for\u201d and \u201ctremendously disappointing.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The standoff began around 10 a.m. Saturday when about 15 agents showed up to arrest an unidentified man at an apartment building on the 1600 block of Maple Lane in Elgin. Elgin police said there had been a traffic crash that morning involving a federal agent and the man, who then fled to the building.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The crowd, blowing whistles and shouting at agents to leave, grew throughout the morning, eventually swelling to at least 200 people by the afternoon.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Around 3:30 p.m., agents reportedly arrested the man while he was inside an apartment. Afterward, videos taken by a witness at the scene showed some people throwing snowballs at the agents and their vehicles, while others yelled at them to stop.<\/p>\n<p>While driving away, agents hurled pepper spray and flash-bang grenades into the crowd. One agent told community members, \u201cBack up or gas will be deployed,\u201d seconds before he threw a canister, a video shows.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokespeople didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem joined the U.S. Coast Guard for a Christmas tree event at Navy Pier on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mng-gallery-initialized mng-gallery-slider\">\n<li data-index=\"1\" class=\"mng-ge mng-gallery-active\" id=\"mng-ge-0\" aria-hidden=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"People walk past as demonstrators call attention to recent U.S....\" class=\"size-article_inline\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-05.jpg\"\/>\n<p>People walk past as demonstrators call attention to recent U.S. military actions in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, in front of the Wrigley Building on Dec. 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"2\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"People pass by as Austin Mindnich, of South Bend, holds...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-07.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-07.jpg\"\/>\n<p>People pass by as Austin Mindnich, of South Bend, holds a sign during a demonstration to call attention to recent U.S. military actions in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, in front of the Wrigley Building on Dec. 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"3\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Pat Ruch holds a sign during a demonstration to call...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-06.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-06.jpg\"\/>\n<p>Pat Ruch holds a sign during a demonstration to call attention to recent U.S. military actions in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, in front of the Wrigley Building on Dec. 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"4\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Eli Navarro speaks during a demonstration to call attention to...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-09.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-09.jpg\"\/>\n<p>Eli Navarro speaks during a demonstration to call attention to recent U.S. military actions in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, in front of the Wrigley Building on Dec. 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"5\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-4\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"People in a second-floor cafe watch as demonstrators call attention...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-04.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-04.jpg\"\/>\n<p>People in a second-floor cafe watch as demonstrators call attention to recent U.S. military actions in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, in front of the Wrigley Building on Dec. 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"6\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-5\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"People walk past as demonstrators call attention to recent U.S....\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-03.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-03.jpg\"\/>\n<p>People walk past as demonstrators call attention to recent U.S. military actions in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, in front of the Wrigley Building on Dec. 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"7\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-6\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"State Sen. Mike Simmons speaks during a demonstration to call...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-02.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-02.jpg\"\/>\n<p>State Sen. Mike Simmons speaks during a demonstration to call attention to recent U.S. military actions in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, in front of the Wrigley Building on Dec. 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"8\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-7\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Emil Mitchell holds protest signs to distribute during a demonstration...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-01.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-No-War-on-Venezuela-01.jpg\"\/>\n<p>Emil Mitchell holds protest signs to distribute during a demonstration to call attention to recent U.S. military actions in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, in front of the Wrigley Building on Dec. 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Show Caption<\/p>\n<p>1 of 8<\/p>\n<p>People walk past as demonstrators call attention to recent U.S. military actions in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, in front of the Wrigley Building on Dec. 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#\" class=\"icon-enlarge mng-gallery-fullscreen-expand\" aria-label=\"Expand fullscreen slideshow\">Expand<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Audrey Luhmann, 40, of West Chicago, said the pepper spray and tear gas went \u201ceverywhere\u201d into the crowd and that she could still smell it about an hour later on her clothes. Luhmann said neighbors asked the agents to see a warrant, which they refused.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s almost as though they wanted things to escalate,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t understand what goes through their mind to justify that kind of action. This could have been just a normal Saturday, and instead, this is what they have to do to our community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Federal agents faced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/11\/28\/bodycam-footage-from-operation-midway-blitz-released\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mounting scrutiny<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/10\/25\/chicago-tear-gas-irving-park\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fearful residents<\/a> and the courts alike over their use of chemical crowd-control weapons during Operation Midway Blitz, which has tapered off since Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino left Chicago with hundreds of his agents in November. Body cameras <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/11\/20\/injunction-scathing-ruling-midway-blitz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">repeatedly captured<\/a> agents\u2019 apparent glee in deploying tear gas and other munitions on residential streets.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s clear that Chicago and Illinois remain a target of the administration,\u201d Brandon Lee, of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/12\/05\/kristi-noem-chicago-immigration-arrests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told the Tribune <\/a>\u00a0recently after agents detained at least three people in the west suburbs.<\/p>\n<p>According to Elgin police, a federal agent reported that he was involved in the traffic crash while conducting enforcement activities, and that someone involved in the crash had fled to Maple Lane. The crash occurred around 9:15 a.m. in the 1600 block of West Highland Avenue, police said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>About 45 minutes later, a separate caller in the 1600 block of Maple Lane reported that \u201csubjects in masks were on their property stating they had a warrant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, the protest outside the building appeared to escalate around 12:30 p.m. A video taken by a witness at the scene shows at least two agents tackling a protester while other agents pushed the crowd back. Agents then threw tear gas and pepper balls into the crowd, according to witnesses and videos.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Tracy Howell, 58, said the agents tackled the protester after he stepped closer to them off the sidewalk. At that point, agents shot the pepper balls, which Howell said \u201cirritated\u201d her nose and throat. She had arrived at the apartment building around noon, she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201c(The agents) just kept saying, \u2018Move back. Move back.\u2019 And I kept asking, \u2018Where do you want us to move back to?\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cAnd the guy who was most aggressive \u2026 pushed me to the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Howell said neighbors were bringing pizzas, water and hand warmers so the group could stay out protesting longer. She said, \u201cIt causes me so much anxiety\u201d to see the federal immigration activity in her community, especially the use of chemical crowd-control weapons.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was just testosterone and anger and uncalled for. There was no reason for it. One little step and they\u2019re triggered,\u201d she said. \u201cI never would have guessed that I would have been pepper shot at or pushed down by law enforcement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Elgin police said they received reports that shots had been fired, but they determined this wasn\u2019t true after arriving at the scene. They instead found that agents had \u201cdispersed chemical irritants.\u201d They treated and released seven people at the scene.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe 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,\u201d the department said.<\/p>\n<p>By 2:30 p.m., the man the agents were attempting to arrest was still on the balcony. About 30 agents at the scene were trying to negotiate with him, while the crowd told the man not to talk to them.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Federal immigration agents deployed tear gas and pepper spray Saturday on a crowd that gathered to protest a&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":429892,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5124],"tags":[960,2398,14684,5386,1818,20523,1808,2399],"class_list":{"0":"post-429891","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago","8":"tag-chicago","9":"tag-department-of-homeland-security","10":"tag-elgin","11":"tag-il","12":"tag-illinois","13":"tag-immigration-and-customs-enforcement","14":"tag-immigration-raid","15":"tag-kristi-noem"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115675478013587189","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=429891"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429891\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/429892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=429891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=429891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=429891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}