Urgent: Shots Fired at CBP Agents in Chicago’s Little Village

URGENT UPDATE: Shots were fired at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood on November 8, 2023, as tensions escalated during a federal law enforcement operation. An unidentified male in a black Jeep opened fire while agents were detaining a young woman, sparking chaos and protests nearby.

The incident occurred near 26th Street and Kedzie Avenue as part of the Operation Midway Blitz, aimed at enforcing federal immigration laws in the city. The number of shots fired remains unknown, but the Department of Homeland Security condemned the violence, stating, “This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of violence and obstruction.”

Protests erupted as demonstrators demanded the release of the detained woman. As tensions heightened, some protesters threw bricks and a paint can at the agents’ vehicles. The situation intensified when the man in the black Jeep fired at the agents before fleeing the scene.

Chicago Police quickly arrived to restore order, and while there were no reported injuries from gunfire, one police officer was struck by a vehicle and taken to a local hospital. His current condition has not been released. The CPD confirmed it is actively searching for the driver of the black Jeep, who remains unidentified.

In a statement, Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez criticized the CBP agents, claiming they escalated the situation by “coming out of their vehicles pointing their weapons” and deploying tear gas against protesters. Despite the chaos, CBP agents resumed their enforcement activities near 26th and Pulaski, utilizing tear gas to disperse crowds as another suspect was detained.

Witnesses reported that protesters used whistles and car horns to alert others of the CBP’s presence during a subsequent attempt to detain a man and his niece near 25th and Sawyers. The incident highlights the rising aggression toward federal law enforcement during operations, prompting urgent calls for an end to the violence.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the search for the shooter and other suspects intensifies. Residents in the area are urged to remain vigilant as law enforcement works to restore safety and order.

Stay tuned for more developments on this breaking story as it unfolds.