A high-ranking US Border Patrol official was filmed in a heated exchange with the mayor of an Illinois city, asserting his authority to arrest illegal migrants during operations in the Chicago area.
Confrontation in Evanston
The incident occurred on Wednesday as federal agents conducted enforcement actions. Greg Bovino, a prominent figure known for his tough stance on immigration, was challenged by Evanston's Democrat Mayor Daniel Biss, who is currently campaigning for Congress. Approximately 100 protesters gathered, chanting 'shame' as the two men debated.
Mayor Biss argued, 'You are not authorized to remove our residents without any warrant.' Bovino fired back, 'I am. They're not residents. They're illegal aliens, that's not a resident. Don't use that type of language, Mr. Mayor, that's the wrong language.' The brief interaction concluded with Bovino promising his team would 'make your city safe.'
Operation Midway Blitz and Local Backlash
Bovino later told The Chicago Tribune his team was 'taking criminals off the street' and claimed to receive assistance from local police in Evanston and Chicago. He suggested local authorities were learning from operations in Louisiana about conducting orderly enforcement. This claim is contentious, as Chicago is a well-known 'sanctuary city' with laws that generally prohibit police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
Mayor Biss strongly denied his police were assisting with immigration arrests, stating they were only present to 'keep the peace.' He criticised the federal agents, saying, 'It's a tragedy that they're keeping people safe from our federal government.'
Protests and Tear Gas in Chicago Streets
This confrontation is part of a wider pattern of resistance against ICE and CBP operations in the area, enacted under President Trump's immigration policies. Earlier this month, chaotic scenes unfolded when Chicago residents threw snowballs at ICE agents. The protest escalated, leading to the deployment of tear gas, which filled the frozen streets.
Video from the protest showed masked individuals hurling snow and a large plume of smoke rising. A man was heard screaming a warning about gas. At least seven people required treatment for chemical exposure, though it remains unclear if any arrests were made. The dispute reportedly began when federal agents, conducting raids, were involved in a car crash and called local police.
Greg Bovino, who was promoted earlier this year after being fired during the Biden administration, has been leading operations like 'Operation Midway Blitz,' which has recently focused on suburbs around Chicago. The ongoing tension illustrates the deep national divide over immigration enforcement and the role of sanctuary cities.
