By CHRISTINE FERNANDO
CHICAGO (AP) — Senior Border Patrol official Greg Bovino returned to the Chicago space on Tuesday, a couple of month after leaving to guide immigration enforcements in different cities, immigration advocates say.
Bovino, the face of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, was photographed Tuesday within the predominantly Mexican American neighborhood of Little Village by the Chicago Solar-Instances as neighbors and activists blew whistles and shouted.
Movies obtained by The Related Press confirmed a number of unmarked automobiles and Border Patrol brokers deploying pepper balls and detaining a person within the neighborhood’s enterprise hall.
Bovino arrived within the Chicago space in September amid Operation Halfway Blitz, which has yielded 1000’s of arrests and fueled concern amongst immigrant communities. The operation has turn into identified for its aggressive techniques, together with the usage of chemical munitions and automotive chases. Because the operation started, federal brokers deployed tear fuel in neighborhood streets, hit protesters and journalists with pepper balls and shot no less than two folks, killing one.
Bovino left Chicago in November to guide immigration operations in New Orleans and North Carolina. Whereas immigration operations had continued in Chicago, they had been noticeably subdued with fewer tense confrontations, and Tuesday’s enforcements had been among the many most seen since Bovino left city.
“As we stated a month in the past, we aren’t leaving Chicago and operations are ongoing,” stated Division of Homeland Safety Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker complained that he was not given discover that Bovino and extra Border Patrol brokers had been returning to the Chicago space on Tuesday. And he stated he doesn’t understand how lengthy they’ll keep.
Pritzker additionally referred to as on Bovino to testify in entrance of an Illinois fee created in October to doc misconduct by federal brokers.
“I’m so pleased with the folks of Illinois, for doing as they’ve, which is to guard their neighborhoods and their neighbors, to do the precise factor,” Pritzker stated Tuesday. “And so, I feel we’re in a significantly better place.”
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Federal immigration enforcement brokers detain a person close to West twenty seventh Road and South Ridgeway Avenue within the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Solar-Instances by way of AP)
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Federal immigration enforcement brokers detain a person close to West twenty seventh Road and South Ridgeway Avenue within the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Solar-Instances by way of AP)
At a Tuesday information convention, activists vowed to proceed supporting immigrant communities within the Chicago space. Advocates stated 15 folks, together with day laborers and a tamale vendor, had been detained Tuesday on the town’s Southwest aspect and in suburban Berwyn and Cicero.
“We’re drained however we’re not weary,” stated Illinois State Senator Celina Villanueva. “… Each single time that they arrive, we’re going to present up.”
Victor Rodriguez II, a lifelong resident of Little Village, stated he helped a girl when her husband was detained after a “caravan of masked brokers started terrorizing our group,” together with utilizing pepper balls in neighborhood streets. Rodriguez accused Bovino of “focused political theater.”
Bob Reiter, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, stated Border Patrol brokers questioned placing laborers on Chicago’s Southwest aspect and accused Bovino of “coming to our picket line to sit back union exercise.”
“Now we have seen the primary act of this political theater they’ve introduced,” he stated. “Now it’s the second act, and we’re prepared.”
