More than a dozen people were detained by federal agents Thursday at the Swap-O-Rama flea market on Chicago’s Southwest Side, according to Ald. Julia Ramirez (12th).
In a video outside of the Swap-O-Rama, Ramirez said she believes as many as 15 people were detained by federal immigration agents, though her office was trying to piece together information about what took place. The flea market is located in the 12th Ward. Federal agents were seen driving in the flea market located in the 4100 block of South Ashland Avenue.
The incident appeared to be part of a larger immigration enforcement operation in the area.
“We can confirm that there has been about 30 detainments, kidnappings all throughout our neighborhood,” Ramirez said in the video. “We’ve seen heavy activity with agents on Archer [Avenue], over by Kelly High School, by the Home Depot.”
Federal immigration officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Thursday.
Video footage from customers and vendors showed a dozen or more officials walking into the outdoor market and running toward individuals. People could be heard yelling, “ICE, ICE, la migra”, while others recorded and demanded to see a warrant.
The market is open every Thursday and vendors pay a fee to sell secondhand items, imported goods, food and produce, auto parts and more.
Some of the people who were being pursued by federal agents ran inside the building and others hopped over a fence.
Later Thursday, a group protested against ICE along Ashland Avenue. They were critical of the Swap-O-Rama owner, saying not enough was done to stop agents from entering the flea market.
One woman, Nani, 22, said her mother is a vendor and that many of her mother’s friends were among those detained. The woman did not want to be identified by her full name.
She said vendors had previously been assured by management that they would not allow immigration agents into the property.
It’s not the first time that Swap-O-Rama has been raided by immigration officials. In 2013, another large immigration raid took place at the flea market, leading to several arrests.