Border Patrol Agents Patrol Downtown Chicago Amid Protests

DOWNTOWN, Chicago — A large presence of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents patrolled Downtown Chicago on Sunday afternoon, detaining members of a family at Millennium Park, according to witnesses and local officials.

Witnesses reported seeing approximately 30 agents, dressed in uniform, near Millennium Park around 12:30 p.m. Street performers Bill and Ian observed the agents marching along Michigan Avenue, stationed around Wacker Drive, and in the Gold Coast neighborhood.

Local officials condemned this militarized presence, initiated under President Donald Trump, arguing there was no justification for such actions in a peaceful area. “This is a very peaceful part of the city,” Ian stated.

Lindsay Rich witnessed a family of four being stopped by agents, with one member reportedly detained. She noted the distress of a young girl, who was seen crying while holding a doll. Rich expressed concern for the trauma such situations may cause young children.

Some agents were armed with long guns and moved along Michigan Avenue and North Clark Street. Danielle Rabie, who was walking nearby with her husband, Devin, encountered roughly 50 Border Patrol Officers marching and dispersing into unmarked vehicles. “I think it’s horrifying,” she commented, stressing the undesirability of armed individuals in the city.

Mayor Brandon Johnson labeled the patrols as a “brazen provocation” by the Trump administration. In a statement, he condemned the intimidation of residents and visitors by masked agents wielding automatic weapons. “This is another brazen provocation that does nothing to make our city safer,” Johnson stated.

Federal agents were also seen patrolling the Chicago River, with boats linked to the Customs and Border Protection spotted along the waterway. The operation has provoked reactions from various local officials, culminating in a press conference held by the Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights.

State officials, including Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Chuy Garcia, remarked that this reflects a militarization of immigration tactics in the city. “We want Trump and his aides to be clear: We will not take this lying down,” Garcia said.

Following the agents’ march, a crowd of protesters voiced their opposition with chants of “Get out of Chicago.” Multiple reports indicated arrests during the operation, with some observers stating that construction workers were apprehended.

Organizers of the Street Vendors Association of Chicago expressed the emotional and economic toll of heightened enforcement. “Right now, our community is living in fear,” noted Maria Orozco, highlighting the impact on street vendor workers.

This operation follows a broader pattern of heightened immigration enforcement in Chicago, with reports of increased surveillance near schools, courthouses, and workplaces. Mayor Johnson and other officials continue to monitor the situation as community reactions unfold.