By Manisha Sahu | America News World
CHICAGO, November 9, 2025
Tensions flared in Chicago’s southwest side as federal immigration operations coincided with gunfire, protests and an intense manhunt on Saturday, authorities say.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), agents from the U.S. Border Patrol were carrying out enforcement activity near 26th Street and Kedzie Avenue in the predominantly Mexican-American neighborhood of Little Village when a man driving a black Jeep allegedly fired shots at the agents and fled the scene.
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) confirmed that officers responded to reports of shots fired in that area and secured the scene. However, they stated that no one has been struck by gunfire. “There are no reports of anyone struck by gunfire,” CPD said in its statement.
What happened
Around midday Saturday, agents conducting the enforcement operation encountered resistance from gathered residents, according to DHS, which described a chaotic scene of “agitators” throwing paint cans and bricks at Border Patrol vehicles. The alleged shooter in the Jeep remains at large and the investigation is ongoing.
One CPD officer was reportedly struck by a car while providing crowd-control assistance, local ABC affiliate WLS reported, though the police department has not yet provided detailed confirmation of injuries.
Context: the enforcement campaign
The incident comes amid the wider immigration-enforcement drive by the Donald Trump administration in the Chicago area, code-named Operation Midway Blitz, which launched in September and has already resulted in over 3,000 arrests according to DHS figures. DHS says the crackdown is intended to target “dangerous criminals” living in the U.S. illegally — but critics say many of the detainees had no criminal history or were U.S. citizens.
The recent flare-up of violence and protests reflects growing friction between federal agents and local communities. In Little Village, residents say the presence of heavily-armed agents patrolling neighborhood streets and detaining individuals, including near a daycare centre, is creating fear and anger.
Reaction & disputed claims
In its statement, DHS noted that “over the past two months, we’ve seen an increase in assaults and obstruction targeting federal law enforcement” in such operations. However, the credibility of some claims by federal officials has been challenged. A senior Border Patrol official, Gregory Bovino, has come under scrutiny for allegedly providing misleading accounts of previous operations in Chicago, and a federal judge recently reprimanded him for false statements.
Local community response
Local aldermen and community activists spoke out sharply. Ald. Michael Rodriguez of the 22nd Ward described the scene as “mayhem,” saying agents used flash-bang devices and tear gas against demonstrators. Residents in Little Village say the operation has heightened fear among families, especially given the broad sweep of arrests and the presence of large numbers of federal agents in residential neighborhoods.
What now
Law-enforcement officials say the shooter remains at large, and the black Jeep remains a key lead. DHS and CPD continue to investigate the incident along with local officials. Meanwhile, community groups and civil-rights advocates are calling for greater transparency and accountability in the enforcement operations — particularly when no weapons or injuries have been confirmed despite serious claims by federal officials.
For residents of Little Village and nearby neighbourhoods, Saturday’s events are the latest sign of a deepening rift between federal enforcement and immigrant communities, a rift that shows no obvious resolution in the near term.
What to watch for
– Updates on the suspect and vehicle search: whether authorities locate the Jeep and the individual who fired.
– CPD and DHS statements: for any new corroboration of shots fired or injuries, and for body-cam or video evidence.
– Community & legal fallout: whether there will be hearings or investigations into the enforcement practices under Operation Midway Blitz.
– Impact on local immigrant trust: whether this incident will deepen community opposition or fuel further protests.
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