Authorities in Evanston, Illinois, are investigating a violent encounter involving U.S. Border Patrol agents following a car crash on Friday that was captured on video and widely circulated on social media.
According to local police, a sedan collided with a Border Patrol vehicle around noon in downtown Evanston, triggering a chaotic scene as federal agents arrested three people. Videos show agents using pepper spray, pointing firearms, and at one point, repeatedly striking a man pinned to the ground.
The Evanston Police Department confirmed that officers are now collecting videos and witness statements to forward to the Illinois Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division for further review.
Chaotic Scene and Public Outcry
Footage shared online shows bystanders attempting to intervene as agents detained the car’s occupants. One clip shows a Border Patrol agent punching a man whose face was pressed against the pavement, while others show agents using pepper spray and aiming weapons toward onlookers.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the agents’ actions, claiming the officer’s “defensive strikes” were in response to the man allegedly grabbing and squeezing the agent’s genitals. DHS also said the Border Patrol vehicle was “aggressively tailgated” before being struck as it attempted to make a U-turn.
However, some witnesses dispute that account, alleging the agents caused the collision by braking suddenly.
Local Leaders Condemn Federal Agents
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss sharply criticized the Border Patrol’s handling of the incident, describing the arrests as violent and “deeply disturbing.”
“It is an outrage,” Biss said during a press conference. “Our message for ICE is simple: Get the hell out of Evanston.”
The mayor also reaffirmed the city’s stance as a “No ICE Zone”, noting that Evanston would continue to resist federal immigration raids and bolster community-led rapid response teams to monitor and document enforcement actions.
Community Response
Residents and advocacy groups have mobilized to form rapid response networks, alerting neighbors when federal immigration agents are spotted in the area.
Social worker Allie Harned, who witnessed the scene, described it as “terrifying.”
“There were ICE and CBP agents pointing guns at community members and spraying pepper spray in people’s faces,” Harned said. “It was horrifying to everyone there including students who saw it happen.”
Police Oversight
Evanston Police Commander Ryan Glew said that going forward, a police supervisor will be dispatched to every immigration enforcement scene to document events and gather evidence.
“When we responded, our focus was on stabilizing the situation and preventing further conflict between ICE agents and community members,” Glew stated.
Several individuals reportedly received medical attention for pepper spray exposure, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
