Shocking Video: Chicago Man's Harrowing Encounter with Armed Agents Sparks Citizenship Debate

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CHICAGO (WGN) — In a startling incident on a Chicago street, a U.S. citizen claims he was forcefully taken by armed Border Patrol agents in the middle of the day this past Wednesday.

The individual, identified only as Angel, recounted that he was en route to his cousin’s residence in South Chicago when an unfamiliar vehicle pulled up next to him, and agents forcibly brought him inside.

“I didn’t recognize who was in the vehicles as they drove by,” remarked Angel, opting to withhold his last name for privacy reasons.

This event has ignited community reactions, leading to a tense confrontation between local residents and federal agents on the Southeast Side of Chicago.

Angel explained that the incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday when he observed the vehicle, which had initially driven past him, make a return loop.

In the video, United States Border Patrol agents can be heard identifying themselves. Four agents then exit the vehicle and instruct Angel not to run away. While recording, Angel retreats as the agents come closer. The agents then grab Angel, knocking his phone to the ground. However, nearby cameras at his cousin’s house continued to record.

“I got cameras. I heard the ring camera go off, and I went out and saw them driving off,” Angel’s cousin told Nexstar’s WGN.

Video shows agents leading Angel to their SUV and placing him in the back seat as neighbors gathered in the street, left to wonder what happened.

“He doesn’t have any warrants. He isn’t a troublemaker. He is a nice kid who was coming to help me out,” Angel’s cousin said.

Inside the SUV, Angel said, agents demanded his name and repeatedly questioned his legal status.

“They took me into their vehicle and demanded my name and asked if I’m a legal citizen,” Angel said. “…I’m from Chicago, Illinois.”

Seemingly satisfied that he was a citizen, Angel said, agents left him at an intersection about half a mile away from where they had initially detained him. Angel’s cousin found him shortly thereafter.

“I saw him walking down from a couple of blocks away, and he jumped in, and I asked what happened? He said they just grabbed him and threw him in the car with them,” Angel’s cousin said.

As WGN crews visited the scene, another immigration vehicle seemed to pass by, but it’s unclear what—or who—they were looking for.