(The Hill) — Border Patrol agents were involved in a Tuesday car chase that ended in dozens of protesters being sprayed with tear gas and two arrests in a Chicago neighborhood amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on crime.
Federal agents chased two individuals who rammed into a Border Patrol vehicle before fleeing the scene, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“Once the vehicle was stopped, the suspects, who are both illegal aliens, attempted to flee on foot,” DHS said in a statement to Nexstar’s NewsNation, The Hill’s sister network. “As Border Patrol arrested the subjects and attempted to secure the scene, a crowd began to form and eventually turned hostile and eventually crowd control measures were used.”
Chicago Police arrived at the scene at approximately 11:07 a.m. to respond to reports of a car accident.
Local police said demonstrators were waving flags and began to throw objects at federal agents when tear gas canisters were tossed into the crowd. Thirteen Chicago police officers were impacted by the tear gas while attempting to “de-escalate” the situation, DHS said.
“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers,” DHS said in their statement.
“The fact that this attack was carried out by two illegal immigrants, highlights the need for federal law enforcement to continue to do their job of enforcing the laws of our nation…,” it added.
The incident comes just a week after 27 local police officers were sprayed with tear gas while assisting federal agents with crowd control.
Days later, WGN-TV employee Debbie Brockman was arrested while documenting protests by a federal agent who kneeled on her back.
A local pastor who was praying for federal agents was also hit with a pepper ball and shoved by law enforcement last month, which was recorded in a video that recently went viral.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) has shared outrage over the treatment of local residents who are “holding signs and expressing themselves.”
“I’ve never seen it like this in the United States of America,” Pritzker said on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling has urged federal agents to improve communication with local authorities to ensure that law enforcement from all levels are protected.
“Communication is the key here,” Snelling said during a press conference last week.
“Communication does not mean collaboration,” he added.
Local residents and media organizations have pulled together to file joint lawsuits against the Trump administration over the treatment of Chicago residents as the White House beefs up its immigration enforcement in the region.
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