U.S. citizen briefly detained in Elgin immigration enforcement blitz
Sep 16, 2025·Location: Elgin, IL
Joe Botello, a U.S. citizen born in Texas, was handcuffed and detained by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Elgin on September 16, 2025. Agents forcibly entered his home, breaking down doors, and placed him in a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol vehicle before releasing him after scanning his driver's license. The operation, part of a larger immigration enforcement blitz in the Chicago area, also resulted in the detention of his roommates.
Sources
- CBS News
- Elgin man who is a US citizen was briefly detained in latest Chicago-area immigration enforcement blitz
Chicago Tribune·Sep 16, 2025·archived copy
- Elgin man who is a US citizen was briefly detained in latest Chicago-area ICE blitz
Yahoo News·Sep 16, 2025·archived copy
- 2 apparent US citizens swept up by ICE in Elgin, Illinois; Melrose Park protest gets underway with Kristi Noem in Chicago area
More incidents in Illinois
- Woman shot seven times by Border Patrol agent sues after charges droppedOct 5, 2026 · Chicago, IL
- Man mistaken for fugitive beaten and detained by ICE agents in Evanston, hospitalizedOct 4, 2026 · Evanston, IL
- ICE arrests eight men in Woodstock and Waukegan, Illinois enforcement operationsSep 25, 2026 · Waukegan, IL
- DACA recipient held by ICE for 7 months, son didn't recognize herSep 22, 2026 · Broadview, IL
- Federal agents repeatedly use tear gas, pepper spray on protesters at Broadview ICE facilitySep 19, 2026 · Broadview, IL
- Fear of ICE raids cost Chicago-area businesses $1.26 billion, study findsSep 8, 2026 · Chicago, IL