A manhunt is underway in Chicago after a gunman allegedly opened fire on federal immigration agents during an enforcement operation Saturday morning. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the suspect, who fled the scene in a black Jeep, targeted Border Patrol agents in the city’s Little Village neighborhood. No agents were injured in the incident, but authorities say the threat level remains high as the suspect remains at large.
The agents were reportedly involved in Operation Midway Blitz, a federal crackdown on illegal immigration and criminal activity across Chicago. The shooting occurred near 26th Street and South Kedzie Avenue, a densely populated area with a high concentration of Mexican-American residents. Federal officials confirmed that, following the shooting, local protesters confronted agents, throwing bricks and even a paint can at federal vehicles. Officers deployed a flash-bang device to disperse the crowd.
Chicago Police responded and confirmed shots had been fired at federal personnel. The investigation remains active, and law enforcement agencies are coordinating to identify and apprehend the suspect. DHS has not yet released surveillance images or further details about the suspect’s identity.
Since launching in September, Operation Midway Blitz has led to over 3,000 arrests in the Chicago area. Federal officials describe the operation as necessary to enforce immigration law and remove criminal offenders. However, tensions have grown in neighborhoods where residents and activists claim enforcement methods have become overly aggressive and disruptive to local communities.
This latest incident raises significant concerns about the safety of federal personnel operating in cities resistant to immigration enforcement and highlights the growing conflict between federal mandates and local opposition.
