Chaos erupted in Chicago yet again as Border Patrol agents found themselves under vehicular assault during a routine patrol this morning around 39th Place and S. Kedzie Avenue. A statement from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, obtained by DHS, detailed the onslaught where officers were rammed and trapped by a group of 10 cars. In a fraught encounter, agents were forced to fire their weapons in self-defense against an armed suspect who allegedly attempted to run them over.
According to the statement, after ramming the law enforcement vehicle, one of the drivers—a woman previously named in a CBP intelligence bulletin for doxing agents online—was carrying a semi-automatic weapon. In a desperate bid, officers had no choice but to deploy their weapons. The woman drove to the hospital for treatment of her wounds, and no law enforcement officers sustained serious injuries during the violent altercation.
The FBI is currently on the scene of what is described as an evolving situation. This confrontation follows a disturbing trend in Chicago, where vehicles have been recently used against law enforcement. Earlier this week, DHS condemned this mode of attack that's seemingly become a trend in the area.
An apparent growing crowd has prompted the deployment of special operations to secure the area, further escalated by the Chicago Police Department's withdrawal from the scene. Assistant Secretary McLaughlin, in a public statement, highlighted the dangers of rhetoric comparing ICE to historically oppressive organizations, emphasizing the humanity of the officers as individuals with families, not just law enforcement entities.
The incident raises concerns regarding the safety of law enforcement officers and the public discourse surrounding their duties. More information from DHS is anticipated as the investigation unfolds.
