27 Police Officers Among Those Injured By Tear Gas During Weekend Protest, Chicagos Top Cop Says

Following a protest triggered by the shooting of a woman by a federal agent in Brighton Park, 27 Chicago police officers were affected by tear gas deployed by federal law enforcement. The woman reportedly drove her car into a Border Patrol vehicle before the shooting, leading to a gathering of protesters and a subsequent standoff. Video evidence shows both officers and protesters suffering from the effects of the chemical agent. Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown disputed Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin's claims that the Chicago Police Department did not assist federal agents during the incident. He emphasized that local officers responded quickly to the scene but lacked proper equipment to handle the tear gas.

Chicago police are barred from enforcing federal immigration laws, complicating their role during federal operations. The situation underscores ongoing tensions between local and federal authorities regarding immigration enforcement and public safety. Additionally, a Chicago man was charged with soliciting the murder of a federal immigration official, further illustrating the volatile atmosphere surrounding immigration issues in the city.