Federal agent involved in crash, 'chemical irritants' deployed in Elgin, police say

ELGIN, Ill. (WLS) -- A federal agent was involved in a car crash Saturday in Elgin and several people were later treated for exposure to "chemical irritants" deployed during an immigration enforcement operation, local police said.

It was one of few federal immigration operations seen in the Chicago area the last few weeks since much of Border Patrol left the area.

There were certainly some tense moments between federal agents and many residents in the neighborhood, and at one point tear gas was deployed into the crowd.

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A federal agent contacted the Elgin Police Department around 9:15 a.m. Saturday to report they were involved in a crash in the 1600 block of West Highland Avenue, Elgin police said. The agent said the other person involved in the crash had fled to the area of Maple Lane nearby.

Just after 10 a.m., Elgin police were called for a report of masked people on their property in the 1600 block of Maple Lane, saying they had a warrant. Local police determined they were federal agents.

The operation was related to immigration activity, Elgin police said.

Around 12:22 p.m., Elgin police responded to multiple reports of shots fire in the 1600 block of Maple Lane, but determined no shots were fired. During the incident, federal agents "dispersed chemical irritants."

ABC7 crews observed tense moments between the federal agents and protesters at the scene.

Clouds of tear gas emerged at the scene as federal agents were trying to detain a man on Maple Lane, ABC7 was told.

"I saw ICE drag people to the ground," witness Christina Chandler said. "I saw ICE spray people in the face. I mean they literally threw a smoke bomb right in front of my house, three of them in front of my house with my daughter in the house, and they smoked that inside of my house."

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At least seven people were treated for exposure to the chemical irritants by Elgin police and fire first responders, local officials said.

Cellphone video showed at least one man being detained by federal agents as protesters remained on scene.

"Oh yeah, I got hit with some gas," said Illinois State Senator Cristina Castro, D-22nd District. "They were spraying people."

Audrey Lehman, who lives nearby, says her young child was in the area where tear gas was deployed.

"So it was very sudden, and I was able to get everybody off to one side, and then realized my 3-year-old was gone, and she was in the middle of the tear gas," Lehman said. "Somebody scooped her up and got her out of the way."

Residents said it was surprising to see federal agents in the area, since they haven't seen much of them in the last month.

Senator Castro says Saturday's operation hit close to home for her.

"You know, people deserve the right to due process here and here they are disturbing again, my city, my hometown where I've been born and raised, striking fear, and you know, what they just need to go home and go away," Castro said.

Elgin police said officers had responded to about 30 calls for service in connection to the federal operations Saturday morning and afternoon.

"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," a statement from Elgin police read in part.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a statement on the incident, saying Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested "an illegal alien from Venezuela and suspected member of Tren de Aragua (TdA)."

DHS said "ICE officers attempted to conduct a vehicle stop, at which point," the suspect "resisted arrest by intentionally ramming an officer's vehicle into a tree. Thankfully, the officer sustained no injuries."

DHS continued, saying the man "then fled on foot and barricaded himself into an apartment of a person he did not know. The suspected gang member came out on the apartment's balcony and officers tried to negotiate with him to leave the apartment. During this time, a large crowd of agitators formed and began throwing rocks and bottles at law enforcement officers. The local police department refused to protect ICE law enforcement officers."

After several hours of negotiating, ICE officers safely took the man into custody, DHS said, adding, "This suspected TdA gang member entered the country illegally in April 2023 and was released by the Biden administration. Then, the Biden administration granted him Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This once again shows the lack of vetting the Biden administration did on illegal aliens they allowed into American communities. Under Secretary Noem's leadership, this illegal alien's TPS was terminated in November 2025. He will be placed in removal proceedings."

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement, saying, "This suspected TdA gang member was not only released into our country by the Biden administration but also granted Temporary Protected Status. This yet again underscores the serious lack of vetting by Biden administration on the millions of aliens they allowed to come into the country. Thankfully, under President Trump and Secretary Noem, this administration terminated his TPS, arrested him and removed him fromour streets. We are grateful all ofour officers are safe after, yet another vehicle was used as a weapon against them and more rioters threw rocks and bottles at them. Our officers are experiencing a more than 1150% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. This violence against law enforcement must end."

No further information was immediately available.