Officials with the Department of Homeland Security said Border Patrol agents were shot at Saturday in Chicago while authorities were conducting immigration enforcement in the southwestern part of the city.
The DHS said an unknown male driving a black Jeep opened fire at the agents before speeding off near the corner of 26th Street and Kedzie Avenue.
A crowd of “agitators” also threw a paint can and bricks at Border Patrol vehicles in the area, federal officials said.
Chicago police confirmed that officers arrived to help clear the scene of a shooting but said there were “no reports of anyone being struck by gunfire.”
Authorities said the shooter remains at large and didn’t say if anyone was arrested amid the chaos.
“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of violence and obstruction,” the DHS posted on X. “Over the past two months, we’ve seen an increase in assaults and obstruction targeting federal law enforcement during operations. These confrontations highlight the dangers our agents face daily and the escalating aggression toward law enforcement. The violence must end.”
Immigration agents were targeted in separate attacks last month as part of Operation Midway Blitz.
Federal prosecutors accused Marimar Martinez of ramming into and boxing in Customs and Border Patrol vehicles.
CBP agents responded by shooting Ms. Martinez, court documents said. She survived the Oct. 4 incident and pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting, impeding or interfering with a federal officer.
On Oct. 14, two illegal immigrants from Venezuela were also charged with ramming into a Border Patrol vehicle.
Police arrested Yonder Enrique Tenefe-Perez and Luis Gerardo Pirela-Ramirez after a chase.
Prosecutors charged Mr. Pirela-Ramirez with assault on a federal agent and Mr. Tenefe-Perez with accessory to assault.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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