Using helicopters and chemical agents, immigration agents become increasingly aggressive in Chicago

“They are the ones that are making it a war zone,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Sunday on CNN. “They fire tear gas and smoke grenades, and they make it look like it’s a war zone.”

Since the crackdown began last month, more than 1,000 immigrants have been arrested in the Chicago area. The Trump administration has also promised to deploy National Guard troops to support its efforts to boost deportations. However, U.S. citizens, legally documented immigrants, and even children have reportedly been caught up in the increasingly bold operations.

Helicopters, Zip Ties, and Door-to-Door Raids

One recent operation in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood—an area with a small influx of resettled migrants—saw Department of Homeland Security agents use unmarked trucks and a helicopter to surround a five-story apartment building. NewsNation reported that agents “rappelled from Black Hawk helicopters,” then went door to door, waking residents and restraining them with zip ties.

Activists and local residents say some of those detained included children and U.S. citizens. Rodrick Johnson, a 67-year-old U.S. citizen, told the Chicago Sun-Times that agents broke down his door and handcuffed him. “I asked if they had a warrant, and I asked for a lawyer. They never brought one,” he said.

State agencies, under Pritzker’s direction, are investigating claims that children were zip-tied and separated from their parents. Several Illinois Democratic members of Congress visited the site Sunday to call for an end to the raids.

DHS officials said their focus is on individuals connected to the Tren de Aragua gang and involved in drug trafficking, weapons crimes, or immigration violations. Secretary Kristi Noem posted edited video clips of the operation to X, showing doors being breached and people restrained, but without addressing concerns over the treatment of children.

Chemical Agents and Neighborhood Disruptions

The use of tear gas and smoke grenades has become more frequent, reportedly extending beyond protests to city streets and residential neighborhoods. Activists reported that agents deployed a chemical canister near a school in Logan Square, prompting Funston Elementary to hold recess indoors.

On the same day, Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes was handcuffed at a hospital after questioning agents about a patient pursued by immigration authorities. State Rep. Lilian Jiménez described the raids as “acting like an invading army,” warning that they violate basic constitutional rights and community safety.

In a separate incident, immigration agents shot a woman they alleged was armed and tried to run them over during a multi-vehicle confrontation. Activists contend that the agents’ actions caused the crash, and the woman is a U.S. citizen. Noem defended the operations as treacherous for agents, citing threats to their lives.

Legal Challenges and Local Resistance

In Broadview, a Chicago suburb home to an immigration processing center, officials have turned to the courts to challenge federal actions. The community of 8,000 residents has seen near-daily protests and arrests outside the facility, and local leaders have launched three criminal investigations into federal agents. City officials have also sued the federal government over an 8-foot fence they claim was installed illegally, blocking fire access and posing a public safety hazard.

The controversy underscores growing friction between federal immigration authorities and local communities, with critics calling for more oversight and restraint in enforcement tactics.