Tear Gas Reported During Federal Immigration Activity in Elgin,Illinois
Elgin,IL – November 21,2023 – Reports of a possible detention by federal agents and the use of chemical irritants emerged in Elgin,Illinois,on Monday evening,prompting a notable response from local law enforcement and raising renewed concerns about federal immigration enforcement tactics.approximately 30 calls were placed to the Elgin Police Department’s emergency communications center regarding the incidents.
While the reported detention has not been confirmed by police or Homeland Security, the Elgin Police Department acknowledged responding to calls for service and affirmed its commitment to the Illinois Trust Act, which limits local officer assistance with federal immigration enforcement.
The activity follows a period of heightened federal enforcement in the Chicago area under “Operation Midway Blitz,” which lasted over two months. On November 14,the Department of Homeland Security vacated its staging base at Naval Station Great Lakes,and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino relocated to Charlotte,North Carolina for “Operation Charlotte’s Web.” However, DHS stated enforcement would continue in Illinois.
Operation midway Blitz has already spurred legal challenges. several lawsuits have been filed alleging excessive force by federal agents,specifically concerning the use of tear gas and pepper spray. A group of protesters, clergy, and journalists are currently suing the federal government, claiming the indiscriminate use of chemical agents during the operation.
During a preliminary injunction hearing in early November, attorneys representing the plaintiffs argued agents repeatedly deployed tear gas and pepper spray against non-violent individuals. Plaintiff’s attorney Craig Futterman stated those met with “brutal violence” by the federal government, despite some individuals allegedly slashing tires or throwing objects at agents’ vehicles. Sarmad M Khojasteh, representing the federal government, countered that the court shoudl “reject the notion that first amendment sanitizes the violence” experienced by agents, whose lives she claimed were threatened.
