Neighbors Stand Up to Federal Agents in Albany Park

In Albany Park, a tense standoff occurred when federal agents tried to arrest a resident. Gabriel Paez and Megan Dougherty witnessed the incident and quickly alerted their neighbors. The agents, dressed in bulletproof vests and face coverings, let the man go when they saw the couple and the growing neighborhood response. The situation escalated when neighbors formed a human chain to block the agents' path. This led to the agents using tear gas on the residential street. This is not the first time federal agents have used such tactics in Chicago neighborhoods. Earlier, they had thrown a smoke bomb in Logan Square. The incident is part of a larger operation called Operation Midway Blitz, which has seen increased resistance from communities. Just the day before, around 400 people in Rogers Park rallied against ICE arrests, including that of a popular tamale vendor. During the confrontation, a woman in a bathrobe stood in the street, blocking an agent's car. She was injured when the vehicle moved forward. Videos show neighbors of all ages yelling at the agents and filming the encounter. Paez expressed the community's anger, stating they were making "good trouble" through civil disobedience. The agents, wearing Border Patrol gear, tried to move the crowd but were met with resistance. After deploying tear gas, the crowd dispersed, but one person threw a canister back at the officers. The agents then left the scene after about 30 minutes. Local officials, Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez and state Sen. Graciela Guzman, arrived after receiving alerts but found the agents had already left. Rodriguez-Sanchez praised the neighborhood's quick and brave response, highlighting the community's unity. Despite a court order restricting the use of tear gas and other crowd-control tactics, the agents used tear gas without warning. The order requires two verbal warnings before using such methods and prohibits targeting specific groups like journalists or clergy. The Department of Homeland Security did not comment on the incident. Rodriguez-Sanchez emphasized the strength and risks faced by the community in protecting each other.