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High school students detained, tear gas deployed on Little Village protesters during ICE sweep

Oct 23, 2025 · Chicago, IL

High school students detained, tear gas deployed on Little Village protesters during ICE sweep

During federal immigration enforcement operations in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood on October 23, 2025, federal agents led by U.S. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino detained at least five people, including two Benito Juarez Community Academy high school students and at least one U.S. citizen. A 16-year-old junior was detained and later released; video showed federal agents grabbing a teenage boy from a sidewalk and forcibly handcuffing him. When dozens of residents and protesters gathered near a discount mall at 27th and Whipple streets to oppose the enforcement action, federal agents wearing military-style camouflage and gas masks deployed tear gas and pepper spray into the crowd. Video evidence shows Bovino himself tossing a tear gas canister into the crowd after being told not to do so by Little Village Community Council President Baltazar Enriquez. A 24-year-old U.S. citizen woman protesting was also detained and placed in a van; her sister reported not hearing from her as of Thursday afternoon. Attorneys filed a federal complaint alleging agents violated a court order prohibiting riot control weapons without imminent threat and requiring prior warnings. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis ordered Bovino to testify for five hours and appear in person for a status hearing.

Timeline

Oct 23, 2025Federal immigration agents led by Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino conducted enforcement operations in Little Village, detaining at least five people including two high school students and at least one U.S. citizen
Oct 23, 2025When residents and protesters gathered near discount mall to oppose enforcement action, federal agents deployed tear gas and pepper spray; Bovino tossed a tear gas canister into crowd after being told not to do so
Oct 23, 2025A 24-year-old U.S. citizen woman protesting was detained and placed in a van; Chicago police arrested one woman on allegation of battering a police officer
Oct 3, 2025Attorneys filed federal complaint alleging agents violated court order prohibiting riot control weapons without imminent threat and requiring prior warnings
Oct 3, 2025U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis ordered Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino to testify for five hours and appear in person for status hearing

Sources

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