U.S. Border Patrol agents have been deployed to downtown Chicago to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in arresting undocumented immigrants, according to federal officials.
The move comes after a series of riots and demonstrations outside ICE facilities in Chicago, which escalated tensions in recent weeks. Authorities say the unrest prompted a significant increase in federal reinforcements to help stabilize the situation and carry out immigration enforcement operations.
Witnesses in downtown Chicago reported seeing Border Patrol units working alongside ICE officers, detaining individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. Federal officials described the joint operation as part of a broader strategy to restore order and ensure immigration laws are enforced.
As of now, it remains unclear how many people have been arrested or whether additional reinforcements will be sent in the coming days. Both ICE and Border Patrol have confirmed that enforcement operations will continue in the city.
Chicago, which is considered a “sanctuary city”, has long been at the center of national debates over immigration enforcement and federal-local cooperation. The latest developments mark one of the most direct interventions by Border Patrol in the city’s downtown area.
