U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a Waukegan woman for allegedly impeding a federal investigation outside City Hall Monday afternoon as Mayor Sam Cunningham tried to intervene on her behalf and de-escalate the situation as a crowd gathered.
Dariana Fajardo, 23, was charged with impeding a federal investigation by a group of eight uniformed men whose patches read “Border Patrol” as she failed to move her car with two of the agents standing in front of her.
With a large Mexican flag on the hood of her car, Fajardo was in a line of vehicles on West Street, near Washington Street, in the vicinity of City Hall, unable to drive forward when agents approached her and told her to move her car.
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“I was driving around and told to leave,” she said. “I was boxed in. Two men were standing in front of me. I could not move. I told them I couldn’t leave, and they pulled me out of my car.”
As the agents pushed her against her car, Fajardo said she kept her hands behind her back for her safety. She did not want them to see any movement which could lead them to believe she had a weapon.
“They grabbed me and pushed me into their van,” she said. “There were four (agents) in the car I was in, and four in the other one.”
Though there were published reports that Fajardo made a U-turn in her vehicle and began following one of the Border Patrol vehicles before her arrest, she said she was in a line of cars and they walked up to her vehicle.
Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary for public affairs for the US. Department of Homeland Security, said in an email Tuesday that Fajardo “boxed in law enforcement.” Fajardo said she was the one who could not move her car.
“There were several vehicles blocking the entrance to the (Waukegan) Police Department, but I was not one of them. They boxed me in. I was pulled over to the side,” she said.
McLaughlin also said Fajardo had a firearm. Fajardo said the gun is legal and she can legally have it in her car. She said she informed the agents that the weapon was in her vehicle, and she was not charged with possession of a firearm.
In explaining the actions of the federal agents, McLaughlin said there have been increased reports of people deliberately ramming vehicles of “federal law enforcement during operations.” She said she is concerned with violence against law enforcement.
“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of violence and obstruction,” McLaughlin said. “Over the past several days, we’ve seen an increase in assaults and deliberate vehicle rammings. These confrontations highlight the dangers our agents face daily.”
A native-born American citizen, Fajardo said she was held in a cell in a facility in Lombard for more than four hours before she was released. While she was transported by the agents and arrived at the facility, she said they were disappointed.
“They were talking in the car and asked how many were arrested,” she said. “They were disappointed when one of them said, ‘One.’ When I got out of the car, they were asked again how many. She said, ‘Only one and she’s a citizen.’ The man there was unhappy, too.”
Early in the afternoon, Cunningham said he was leaving City Hall and heard a commotion on West Street. Someone said ICE was there. He went to investigate and saw a crowd forming, along with the Border Patrol agents and Fajardo.
“The young lady called out to me by name,” he said. “I know her parents. I told her to calm down, and do what they tell you. I said don’t worry about your vehicle, we’ll get it secured for you. I spoke to one of the agents, and let him know who I am.”
Earlier in the day, Cunningham was at the College of Lake County’s Lakeshore Campus in downtown Waukegan. He said federal agents apprehended someone there. He did not have any additional details. The arrest was made outside the building. In both situations, he said he had a primary purpose.
“My goal was discretion,” Cunningham said. “I want to keep people calm and make sure our residents are safe.”
A student at the College of Lake County, Fajardo said she works in the entertainment industry.