Since early fall, immigration raids in the Chicago metro area have escalated into an ongoing clash between federal agents and angry residents. On Saturday, that tension boiled over into a tear-gas snowstorm in the suburb of Elgin.
As ICE agents moved through the freezing streets, crowds of locals gathered to protest Operation Midway Blitz, an enforcement effort launched in September targeting illegal immigration across the Midwest.
What began as vocal opposition quickly turned chaotic, as residents hurled snowballs at agents advancing through residential streets lined with fresh snowfall.
Video posted online showed several individuals wearing masks and goggles scooping up snow before launching it at federal officials. Others nearby shouted warnings as a thick cloud rose into the air.
“Woah! Watch out, gas!” a man yelled as tear-gas canisters released plumes of smoke across the street.
Sirens echoed through the neighborhood as a person in a gray tracksuit ran toward agents, throwing snow by the handful. Others yelled for him to stop as people continued tossing snowballs through the haze.
The footage also showed protesters raising signs on the opposite side of the street while standing face-to-face with agents in the drifting fog.
Federal officers responded by repeatedly deploying tear-gas canisters, which produced explosive sounds in the cold air. At one point, a loud boom caused several people to scatter.
Toward the end of the clip, an agent warned residents to move back before deploying another device. The canister landed on a lawn and nearly struck someone standing near a home.
Some individuals attempted to bury the devices under snow in an effort to reduce the impact of the gas spreading into the air.
According to police, the day’s chaos stemmed from a series of calls involving federal agents. Hours before the tear gas was deployed, ICE contacted local authorities after being involved in a car crash during enforcement operations, according to the Daily Mail.
Another call soon followed over reports of masked figures on private property. Police later determined the masked individuals were ICE agents carrying out raids in the area.
Not long after, officers responded to a third report of shots fired. Police later concluded the noise was caused by the tear-gas deployment, which can mimic the sound of gunfire when released.
At least seven people were treated for chemical exposure following the clashes, according to officials. The extent of those injuries has not been disclosed.
Christina Chandler, a resident who witnessed the scene outside her home, told reporters she saw gas thrown directly in front of her property.
“I saw ICE drag people to the ground. I saw ICE spray people in the face,” Chandler said. She claimed three devices were thrown near her house while her daughter was inside.
Authorities have not announced any arrests connected to the incident. The Elgin Police Department said officers would continue responding to calls but reaffirmed that they cannot participate in immigration enforcement under Illinois law.
“The Elgin Police Department will continue to respond to any calls for service and determine the appropriate action within the parameters of the Illinois Trust Act,” the agency stated.
