Using Helicopters and Chemical Agents, Immigration Agents Become Increasingly Aggressive in Chicago

October 7, 2025

Federal immigration agents in Chicago are facing criticism for increasingly aggressive tactics during a recent crackdown that has arrested over 1,000 immigrants. Controversial operations include a helicopter raid on an apartment building where agents zip-tied residents including U.S. citizens and children, deploying chemical agents near a school, and handcuffing a Chicago alderperson at a hospital. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has directed state agencies to investigate claims of children being detained separately from parents, while the Department of Homeland Security defends their actions as targeting gang connections.

Who is affected

Immigrants (both undocumented and those with legal status)
U.S. citizens who were detained during raids
Children who were zip-tied and reportedly separated from parents
Residents of Chicago neighborhoods, particularly in immigrant-heavy and Latino enclaves
Residents of the South Shore neighborhood
Students at Funston Elementary School
Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes
Residents of Broadview (suburb with immigration processing center)
A woman who was shot by immigration agents during an incident

What action is being taken

Federal immigration agents are conducting raids and arrests across Chicago neighborhoods
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is directing state agencies to investigate claims about children being detained
Democratic members of the Illinois congressional delegation are calling for an end to immigration raids
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is canvassing affected areas and operating an emergency hotline
The village of Broadview is launching criminal investigations against federal agents
Broadview officials have filed a federal lawsuit seeking removal of a fence outside the processing center
Attorneys are seeking an extension of a 2022 consent decree on immigration arrests and filing violation claims
Activists are organizing protests outside the Broadview processing center

Why it matters

The aggressive tactics are creating tensions in Chicago neighborhoods and raising concerns about constitutional rights
U.S. citizens, legal immigrants, and children are being caught up in raids intended for undocumented immigrants
The methods being employed by federal agents are described as "military-style tactics" by Governor Pritzker
The operations represent an escalation in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration
The deployment of chemical agents and helicopters in residential areas is causing fear and disruption
Local and state officials are in direct conflict with federal immigration authorities
The situation highlights tensions between federal immigration policy and local governance

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint