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AURORA, Ill. — A dramatic scene unfolded Saturday morning outside an elementary school in Aurora as activists clashed with federal agents following the arrest of two individuals, leading to the temporary detention of U.S. citizens.
Although Allen Elementary School was devoid of students and parents at the time, local residents noticed a vehicle they associated with federal authorities.
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“These marks from the handcuffs show how tightly they were fastened for over an hour,” Ruben Morales explained, displaying his wrists.
Morales, along with fellow activist Jessi Olazaba, had arrived at the school to investigate claims of ICE agents operating in the vicinity. They allege that they soon found themselves the focus of law enforcement attention.
“I was shoved backward, hitting my head on the concrete,” Olazaba recounted. “I ended up with a sizable bump on the back of my head from the impact.”
Morales and Olazaba are both U.S. citizens born in the country, but Morales says the officers, who were dressed in plain clothes, basically attacked him without provocation.
“I’m feeling multiple punches being thrown to the back of my head,” Morales said. “The entire time I’m screaming ‘help, help, help.’ I still don’t know who they are. I’m just guessing, assuming they were ICE.”
Federal agents eventually transported Morales to FBI headquarters in Chicago, where he was released with no charges.
Agents took Olazaba to Rush Copley Hospital in Aurora for the injury to her head. They also gave her a citation for allegedly obstructing an arrest.
A group of protestors went to the hospital as well, and some of them confronted the federal agents.
Aurora Mayor John Laesch met them at the hospital to check on Aurora police and to document the activities. He is opposed to the federal agents being in Aurora at all.
“We believe a lot of these detentions are unconstitutional,” Laesch said. “These are US.. citizens, Aurora residents, and we need to make sure they’re protected.”
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“I’m an American citizen. Born and raised in Aurora,” Morales said. “I’m 35 years old. Never have I been treated Ike this by anybody.”
The mayor says he’s looking into an ordinance similar to Chicago and other communities that would prevent ICE from being in the community without a warrant.
ABC7 Chicago has reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for comment but they have not yet responded.
DHS issues statement on Saturday’s operations in Chicago
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement Sunday about a separate incident in Chicago, saying, “On October 25, 2025, Border Patrol conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who has previously been arrested for assault.
During the operations Border Patrol agents were surrounded and boxed in by a group of agitators. Federal law enforcement issued multiple lawful commands and verbal warnings, all of which were ignored. During the operation, two U.S. citizens were arrested for assaulting and impeding a federal officer. To safely clear the area after multiple warnings and the crowd continuing to advance on them, Border Patrol had to deploy crowd control measures.
“Our officers are facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, abusers, and gang members. Secretary Noem’s message to the rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
