(United States, 5th) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that Border Patrol personnel opened fire in Chicago's southwest on Saturday (October 4th), striking an armed woman during a confrontation involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicles.
According to Reuters, at the time of the incident, the group that included the woman who was shot had rammed vehicles into those used by ICE; no law enforcement personnel suffered serious injuries that night.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the woman is a U.S. citizen, who later drove herself to the hospital for treatment. Authorities have yet to disclose more details regarding her injuries. The statement also noted that, after the incident, ICE agents used pepper spray and standard-issue rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, creating tense scenes.
The DHS spokesperson did not clarify whether an internal investigation would be conducted regarding the civilian casualties and conflict. However, Homeland Security Secretary Noem said on social media that additional "special operations" units had been deployed to the Brighton Park area to reinforce control of the scene.
White House spokesperson Jackson said on Saturday: “President Trump has authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard members to protect federal officials and federal assets... President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness ravaging America’s cities.”
Illinois Governor Pritzker strongly opposed President Trump’s request to use the National Guard. “It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to force a governor to deploy military forces domestically against our wishes,” he said.
This round of conflict occurred against the backdrop of a series of protests in Chicago against federal immigration enforcement. In recent days, hundreds and even thousands of demonstrators clashed with law enforcement outside a local ICE facility; protesters repeatedly sat blocking the way in an attempt to prevent the transfer of detainees, while heavily armed ICE agents responded with force, chemical dispersants, and rubber bullets, creating scenes that verged on combat.
Protesters have accused federal law enforcement of being excessively armed and abusing violence, attributing such tactics to an escalation of immigration enforcement in many Democrat-led cities.
According to Reuters, at the time of the incident, the group that included the woman who was shot had rammed vehicles into those used by ICE; no law enforcement personnel suffered serious injuries that night.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the woman is a U.S. citizen, who later drove herself to the hospital for treatment. Authorities have yet to disclose more details regarding her injuries. The statement also noted that, after the incident, ICE agents used pepper spray and standard-issue rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, creating tense scenes.
The DHS spokesperson did not clarify whether an internal investigation would be conducted regarding the civilian casualties and conflict. However, Homeland Security Secretary Noem said on social media that additional "special operations" units had been deployed to the Brighton Park area to reinforce control of the scene.
White House spokesperson Jackson said on Saturday: “President Trump has authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard members to protect federal officials and federal assets... President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness ravaging America’s cities.”
Illinois Governor Pritzker strongly opposed President Trump’s request to use the National Guard. “It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to force a governor to deploy military forces domestically against our wishes,” he said.
This round of conflict occurred against the backdrop of a series of protests in Chicago against federal immigration enforcement. In recent days, hundreds and even thousands of demonstrators clashed with law enforcement outside a local ICE facility; protesters repeatedly sat blocking the way in an attempt to prevent the transfer of detainees, while heavily armed ICE agents responded with force, chemical dispersants, and rubber bullets, creating scenes that verged on combat.
Protesters have accused federal law enforcement of being excessively armed and abusing violence, attributing such tactics to an escalation of immigration enforcement in many Democrat-led cities.