US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel were beset by dozens of anti-enforcement activists while performing a detention operation on Elgin’s West Side Saturday morning.
According to eye-witness accounts and videos of the incident, a team of ICE personnel were performing a detention operation near the 1600 block of Maple Lane in Elgin Saturday morning when they were confronted by a group of anti-ICE activists throwing water bottles and snow in an attempt to disrupt the operation.
ICE agents responded by attempting to disperse the crowd, ultimately resorting to chemical irritants in an effort to restore order and proceed in their operations. According to Elgin police and fire departments, medical assistance was provided to at least 7 subjects who were treated and released on scene.
Ultimately, the target of the operation was taken into custody.
Elgin Police Department Involvement
As with several other police departments around the state, the Elgin Police Department found itself in a difficult position during the confrontation, prohibited by the Illinois Trust Act from assisting in enforcement activities, but retaining responsibility for maintaining law and order. According to EPD, at 9:15am Saturday, a federal agent contacted the police department’s emergency communications center to report that they were involved in a traffic crash. Responding officers were advised by the federal agent that they were involved in a traffic crash while conducting enforcement activities and that a subject had fled from a vehicle that was also involved in the crash, and that they believed the subject fled to the area of Maple Lane. The police department generated a police report regarding the traffic crash and cleared the scene.
At approximately 10:01am, the police department’s emergency communications center was contacted, and the caller reported a suspicious incident in the 1600 block of Maple Lane, stating subjects in masks were on their property and indicating that they had a warrant. Elgin officers responded to the location and determined that federal law enforcement agents were on scene and cleared the area.
Finally, at approximately 12:22pm, the police department’s emergency communications center was contacted by several callers stating that shots had been fired in the 1600 block of Maple Lane involving federal agents. Elgin officers responded to the area and confirmed that shots had not been fired, but that federal agents had dispersed chemical irritants. According to EPD, the department received approximately 30 calls to the emergency communications center related to these incidents.
Acknowledging the sensitivity of the situation, EPD stated the following: “The Elgin Police Department will continue to respond to any calls for service and determine the appropriate action within the parameters of the Illinois Trust Act which prohibits Elgin officers from assisting with federal immigration enforcement operations.”
