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CHICAGO (WLS) — Questions remain after the announcement that the federal government plans to send military personnel to the Chicago area.
This news comes days after dozens of armed federal agents were seen patrolling streets in downtown Chicago and Tuesday morning, federal agents were seen in the South Shore neighborhood.
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Governor JB Pritzker and other elected leaders believe the ramped-up immigrant enforcement is meant to intimidate.
This comes as overnight dozens of federal agents could be seen surrounding an apartment building in the city’s South Shore neighborhood.
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Video shows agents dressed in military gear near 75th Street and South Shore Drive.
One neighbor said he saw two people detained.
“You hear people screaming, you hear loud bangs and pops, you see children outside standing, I don’t know with their parents or not,” the neighbor said. “It’s a little scary.”
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The FBI said in a statement, “We can confirm that the FBI was supporting a U.S. Border Patrol targeted immigration enforcement operation in the referenced vicinity earlier this morning. The FBI, alongside other Department of Justice law enforcement partners, have been supporting these efforts at the direction of the Attorney General. For any further releasable information, please contact the Department of Homeland Security.”
Governor Pritzker denounced the intensified federal law enforcement presence, in a press conference Monday.
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The governor said the Department of Homeland Security is requesting 100 military personnel be sent to Illinois.
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U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is directing agents to protect ICE facilities after a weekend of unrest at the Broadview ICE facility.
Several protestors were arrested and now face charges for allegedly assaulting federal officers.
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