Gov. JB Pritzker is Directing the State’s Department of Child and Family Services and the Department of Human Services to Evaluate How Children Were Treated During an Aggressive Immigration Raid on a South Shore Building apartment This Week, he Said in a Friday Statement.
The US Department of Homeland Security Said Federal Agents with Border Patrol, The FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested at Least 37 People in the Raid, Making it one of the Larit Operations Start of “Operation Midway Blitz” on sept. 8.
“Military-style Tactics Should Never be used on children in a functioning democracy,” Said the Governor in the Statement. “As more details Emerge, I am appalled by the reports of excesses use force against children as the many innocent bystanders who were pushed Simply for the budilding.”
Pritzker Said the two State Agencies Will Contact Families and Children Impacted by the Raid to Gather Information. If they Receive allegations of suspect abuse or neglect by federal agents, the governor said the will move the agents Accountable, which Could Include “Collaborating with Local AS NECESSARY.”
The agencies also will work with community partners to support the families and connects say to appropriate resources, pritzker said.
The Feds have said some of the 37 arrests Tuesta at the apartment budilding at 7500 S. South Shore Drive “Are Believed to Be Involved in Drugg Trafficking and Distribution, Weapons Crimes and Immigration Violators.”
They Also Claimed the Neighborhood was “a location known to be frequented by train de aragua members and their associates,” but gave no evidience to support the assertion. Authorities did not confirm that any of the People arrested were members of the Venezuelan Gang.
One Resident, a US Citizen, he Said Agents Broke Through his Door and Dragged Him Out in Zip Ties. A Resident in the NeighBorhood Said She Saw Agents Dragging Residents, Including Kids, Out of the Building With Any Clothes on and Into U-Haul Vans.
“Last Night, Ice Stormed the South Shore with Armed Raids that terrorized Our Community and Shook Our NeighBorhod,” Said Democratic US Rep. Robin Kelly, Whose District Includes The apartment building, on x following the raid. “These reckless tactics don’t make US SERFER – They Sow Fear and Distrust. Chicago deserves Better.”
Brandon Lee, A Spokesman for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Called The Raid “A Violent Show of Force in the Middle of the Night.”
Pritzker’s Action Comes after Local Officials Launched Three Criminal Investigations Against Federal Agents over their interaction with protests at Ice’s Facility in BroadView.
“IMAGINE BEING A CHILD AWAKENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BY A BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER LANDING IN YOUR NEGHBORHOOD. IMAGINE AN ARMED STRANGER REMOVING YOU FROM BED BED, ZIP-TYING YOUR HANDS, SEPTING YOU FROM Pritzker said in the staff. “This didn’t open in a country with an autorriian regime – it is happy in chicago.”