An illegal immigrant with a criminal record has been arrested after shots were fired at U.S. Border Patrol agents during an operation in Chicago over the weekend, authorities said.
According to Fox News, the shooting occurred Saturday in the city’s Little Village neighborhood as agents carried out immigration enforcement operations. The suspect, a Mexican national, allegedly drove up in a Jeep and opened fire before fleeing, according to federal sources who spoke with Fox News.
When arrested, the suspect was found carrying a firearm, officials said.
“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of violence and obstruction,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. “Over the past two months, we’ve seen an increase in assaults and obstruction targeting federal law enforcement during operations.”
DHS said the suspect has prior convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, felony possession of a firearm, and illegal entry. “He is currently marked as a violator of the Laken Riley Act, pending charges related to assaulting officers,” the agency added.
The weapon found during his arrest has not yet been matched to shell casings recovered at the scene. After the shooting, DHS said people threw a paint can and bricks at Border Patrol vehicles.
“This individual should have never been walking the streets of Chicago,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chief Patrol Agent Greg Bovino told Fox News.
Bovino blamed local leaders, including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, for fostering what he called “reckless behavior directed at law enforcement.” Both officials have publicly opposed the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts and Operation Midway Blitz, an ongoing ICE operation in Chicago.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X, “@GovPritzker is protecting violent criminal illegal aliens who want American law enforcement officers dead. This is a battle between law and order, good and evil—and we will prevail.”
Bovino also said intelligence indicated the Latin Kings gang had issued orders to target federal agents in the city.
“These are men and women who are simply waking up in the morning every single day to enforce the rule of law,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said on America’s Newsroom. “It really is a shame that the Democrat Party has decided that violence against law enforcement is OK.”
According to DHS, ICE agents have faced an 8,000% increase in death threats amid growing anti-ICE protests nationwide. The agency says it has deported more than 550,000 illegal migrants since President Donald Trump took office.
