ICE agents and activists briefly clashed Wednesday afternoon during an apparent immigration operation in Chicago.
According to NBC Chicago’s JC Navarrete, the incident occurred near the intersection of 22nd Street and Michigan Avenue in the Motor Row District.
While not confirmed by federal authorities, multiple individuals were escorted by ICE agents out of a building and into two waiting white vans, and during that operation, there was a brief confrontation between the agents and activists who were at the scene.
A family member told Navarrete that a relative had been asked to attend a check-in on her immigration status via a text message, and she was taken into federal custody by ICE agents.
According to the text, ICE agents called the meeting “a standard checkup on” the cases of individuals summoned to the location.
Chicago police officers were observed at the scene, but told Navarrete that they were on the scene for a “public safety operation” and not to assist with any immigration enforcement efforts. Police were called to the scene for officer assistance, according to the department, and were not aware an immigration enforcement action was taking place.
CPD “ensured the safety of all involved, including those exercising their First Amendment rights” while at the scene, according to a statement.
“At no point did CPD assist in immigration enforcement. All actions taken by CPD during this incident were in accordance with CPD policy and the City of Chicago Municipal Code, including the Welcoming City Ordinance,” the department said in a statement.
Chicago Ald. Anthony Quezada, who represents the 35th ward, addressed activists at the scene after the vans had left, describing how he and several other elected officials had engaged in “non-violent civil disobedience” during the incident.
“We need the moral clarity and courage to fight back against these harmful, evil policies of separation. We as public officials, and we as community members, must stand up and reject these policies that are devastating families.”
Fellow Ald. Rossana Rodriguez and Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez were both also at the scene, Quezada said.
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