I-55 crash, ICE arrest draw protest in McKinley Park

Federal immigration officers hit a truck on Interstate 55 before chasing and detaining a man in McKinley Park Monday, drawing a crowd of protesters who remained on the scene for hours after, according to local Ald. Julia Ramirez.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers chased and then pinned a pickup truck on the highway before detaining a man, Ramirez, who represents the 12th Ward, relayed from rapid responders. Her office, which had representatives at the scene of the crash shortly after it happened, wants anyone who may have known the man to reach out.

In a statement, Illinois State Police did not mention a chase but confirmed deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash involving ICE agents near the I-55 northbound ramp to Damen Avenue around noon. They said no one was injured.

About a dozen federal vehicles arrived in the 3300 block of South Wolcott Avenue with agents, and some taunted residents, who shouted back “get out of our city” and blew whistles.

It was unclear why agents arrested the man. However, a reporter heard an ICE officer at the scene tell protesters the person arrested had a prior DUI.

A Chicago police commander could be seen speaking on the phone nearby after officers arrived around 2 p.m. as several residents stood within feet of the agents. Other residents stood behind the fence of the Target parking lot where the truck had been moved.

“This reminds me of the scene when Marimar was shot” Ramirez said, referring to Marimar Martinez, shot five times last year by Customs and Border Protection agent Charles Exum.

That incident in Brighton Park on Oct. 4, 2025 occurred just 2 miles southwest of Monday’s confrontation.

“ICE agents escalated the situation” this time, as well, Ramirez said. “They came to safeguard the vehicle. I worry about a lot of people coming to the scene and them wanting to hurt people with pepper balls and tear gas.”

ICE and the Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Chicago police confirmed officers were responding in that area.

Enrique Espinoza, an immigration attorney, was part of the rapid response network that showed up to Monday’s scene. He said he was unsure who was detained.

He said one officer had almost immediately raised a baton at residents who showed up to protest. Espinoza questioned why it had taken so long to get a tow truck to the scene.

“They’re not carrying out an action or looking for anyone in the area, but it could be interpreted that they’re instigating the community,” Espinoza said. “With all the millions assigned to their agency, they can get a tow truck here, for their safety and the safety of the community. They’re looking for an excuse to detain people, and we cannot allow that to happen. … Hopefully [chemical weapons] are not coming back.”

Andres Ramirez, a 25-year-old teacher from Little Village, said he was frustrated this was happening on the first day of school.

“Our schools are empty and underfunded, and to see them here with all this expensive equipment is frustrating. … Day by day they keep terrorizing our most marginalized people. We shouldn’t lose our frustration and forget about it.”

It was part of wider activity across the city Monday as agents were reported in multiple neighborhoods. Espinoza said while the immigration campaign from last year had become quieter, moving on from some of the more confrontational encounters with residents as they detained people across the city, it had continued in a “different manner.”

Ramirez agreed and said multiple people had been detained on the Southwest Side Monday.

“Every other day we see one or two individuals detained; we do know they’re present,” Ramirez said. “It makes me emotional.”