Female Individual Shot by Federal Agents in Windy City During Immigration Action
A woman has been shot by federal immigration officers in Chicago during an intensified enforcement and heavily armed operation that has drawn criticism from local civic groups and faced resistance by city politicians.
Official Statement on the Shooting
A spokesperson for the federal agency stated to the press that the shooting occurred after patrolling agents felt threatened from approaching vehicles and that the use of firearms was deemed “defensive”.
The exact circumstances of the event and the health of the woman who was shot are not yet known.
Previous Incident and Government Actions
This shooting follows a previous incident in which federal immigration agents shot and killed a Mexican immigrant in a Chicago suburb after he allegedly tried to escape a traffic stop and hit an agent with his vehicle.
Chicago is one of a slew of US cities where federal authorities has deployed or considered sending the national guard to support with enforcement efforts – or, in some cases, to address exaggerated reports about public safety.
Governor’s Response
Recently, the Illinois governor, from the Democratic party, stated that the US administration plans to federalize military personnel in the state, against the governor’s firm opposition.
“Recently, the federal administration gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will,” the governor stated publicly. “It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to require a governor to send military troops within our own borders and against our will.”
He added: “They will pull citizens out of their regular jobs and away from their loved ones all to be part of a manufactured performance – not a serious effort to ensure security. For the federal government, this has not been about safety. This is about control.”
Ongoing Tensions
Federal officials were present at a detention center in suburban Chicago, which has become the location of increased tensions by officers against demonstrators and journalists.
The federal administration targeted Chicago with official personnel starting in August, incorrectly stating there had been a rise in crime in the city in recent years.
Since then, there have been accounts of increasingly aggressive operations in communities, including aircraft flying above apartment raids and detentions of community leaders and political figures who oppose the enforcement measures.