Earlier this month, Chicago saw one of the highest levels of federal immigration agent activity since Operation Midway Blitz. On June 2, during a chaotic chase and detainment, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents crashed into a woman’s car, dropped a magazine of live ammunition in a crowded neighborhood and threatened residents who were documenting the incident.
By Friday afternoon of that same week, the Chicago Police Department had closed its investigation, classified the crash as “non-criminal” and said there were no additional investigative leads — this despite the wealth of video and photo evidence that residents and nearby businesses reported collecting. The Chicago Sun Times reported that an insurance agent handling the claim of the woman whose car was damaged has not heard back from CPD or federal officials and that ICE had given him the “runaround.”
While none of this proves criminal conduct, it does raise serious questions about whether CPD conducted the thorough review that this incident demanded — and whether the department examined the full conduct of the federal agents involved, or only the vehicle crash.
This is especially concerning given that nearly nine months after the start of Operation Midway Blitz, there have been no charges filed against federal agents who appear to have broken the law, leading to many residents feeling a distrust in their state and local government’s ability to stand up for their rights in the wake of abuses of the federal government.
This lack of accountability cannot become the default. A rushed investigation that cuts corners does not deliver justice for people harmed by their own government. It protects the very accountability gap that allowed months of alleged abuses to go unanswered in the first place. Police and prosecutors have to do their jobs: Investigate these incidents fully and ensure accountability is delivered.
At minimum, CPD must answer:
1. Did CPD investigate this as a law enforcement accountability incident involving armed federal agents, or only as a traffic crash?
Specifically, did CPD review the federal vehicle maneuver that struck a civilian’s car; the Taser deployment, including reports that it was aimed at bystanders; reports that agents threatened to arrest the woman whose car had just been struck; the loaded magazine dropped on a public street; and whether any federal agent conduct warranted referral for prosecutorial review?
2. Who decided to classify the incident as “non-criminal,” what evidence supported that conclusion and was that determination based on the full incident or only the crash?
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3. Did CPD obtain and review all available evidence before suspending the investigation? That includes footage from the Sun-Times, bystanders, nearby businesses, police observation device cameras or traffic cameras, responding officers’ body cameras and any available federal records or footage.
4. Did CPD interview all available witnesses, including the woman whose car was struck, bystanders who recorded the incident and the reporter who documented the arrest?
5. Did CPD identify the federal agents and vehicles involved in the crash, arrest, use of force, threats and weapons handling?
6. Did CPD request records, reports, vehicle information, use-of-force documentation, body-camera footage or other evidence from ICE or the Department of Homeland Security — and if federal officials failed to cooperate, what did CPD do next?
7. Did CPD consult the Cook County state’s attorney’s office before suspending the case?
8. Will CPD reopen the investigation, conduct the full accountability review this incident demands and publicly explain what steps were taken before the case was closed?
The Cook County state’s attorney’s office has argued that prosecutors cannot act unless and until a police agency conducts an investigation and refers a case for review. That makes CPD’s handling of this matter even more troubling.
If a potential law enforcement accountability incident involving federal agents is quickly narrowed into a traffic report, labeled “non-criminal” and suspended within days, then prosecutors may never receive the kind of case file needed to determine whether charges are warranted.
In response to being asked these questions, CPD stated that the incident was reported and classified as a traffic crash. As a result, it did not review any additional evidence, identify the agents involved, request any records from DHS or consult with the state’s attorney’s office, Illinois State Police or the Illinois attorney general’s office before closing the case. It remains to be seen whether the case will be reopened.
One thing is clear: CPD did not submit an incident report involving an outside law enforcement agency, as is required by the mayor’s “ICE on Notice” executive order. While we are aware of three occasions when CPD has filled out this form after an incident with DHS, this raises concerns that the Police Department has not fully operationalized the executive order
The people of Chicago should be able to trust that when federal agents break the law to terrorize our neighborhoods, we will investigate and prosecute the incident to the full extent of our ability. They can’t trust the city if we don’t have a clear process for accountability. This case shows that problem in real time.
Chicagoans deserve more than a closed traffic report. They deserve a real investigation. They deserve justice, and they deserve it now.
Ald. Andre Vasquez represents Chicago’s 40th Ward.
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