Overview
- A coordinated operation in Evanston and nearby Skokie led to the arrests of five noncitizens and three U.S. citizens, with videos showing agents pinning and punching a man as pepper spray was used and a gun was pointed at a bystander.
- DHS says a red car aggressively tailgated a Border Patrol vehicle and crashed during a U-turn and alleges the man grabbed an agent’s genitals, while witnesses and the mayor dispute those claims and accuse agents of brake‑checking and excessive force.
- Mayor Daniel Biss announced investigations into both the use of force and the vehicle crash; Evanston police recorded badge numbers, are collecting video, and are considering referrals to the Illinois Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division or local prosecutors.
- Evanston police said they made no arrests at the scene; the mayor said the three U.S. citizens detained were later released, and DHS reported five Mexican nationals were taken into custody for immigration violations.
- The episode prompted a large protest, rapid‑response monitoring, and canceled outdoor recess near Chute Middle School, and the city now dispatches a police supervisor to document any reported federal enforcement scene.