West Chicago, Ill. — A Democratic state senator was filmed Monday morning running through the Chicago suburb to confront federal agents carrying out an ICE operation, shouting "This is my city" as she approached a vehicle and telling residents to "stay in your cars." Illinois Sen. Karina Villa, shown in red pants and high heels, appeared close to tears as she spoke to the agents, then directed a Spanish-language warning to the camera.
Gregory Bovino, the chief of the U.S. Border Patrol in Chicago, told Fox & Friends on Wednesday that Villa appeared unhinged, saying, "When I see this, I think she really needs to see someone. She may need some help." He defended the agents' decision to wear masks, noting that masks are crucial for safety and that removing them could expose agents to greater risk. "There’s a reason for this," he added, explaining the mask policy amid ongoing operations.
Bovino announced that the operation, labeled "Operation at Large," had begun in Chicago as part of "Operation Midway Blitz." He said the past week had yielded "several hundred arrests" in and around Chicago and that the numbers would likely rise as the effort continues. He also said he would prefer to discuss the operation with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker in person, remarking that he would "rather walk the streets with the governor" and telling the governor to "put his walking shoes on" if he wants to see the street-level impact.
ICE, in a separate statement, criticized Villa's conduct as "irresponsible and dangerous for any elected official to flagrantly encourage individuals to disregard the law and interfere with lawful operations that protect public safety." The agency said such interference undermines public safety and the agents' safety.
Villa's encounter occurred as the Chicago operation, part of the broader Midwestern effort against illegal immigration, intensified in the city and surrounding suburbs. Agent safety protocols, including masking during arrests, remained a focal point in the agency's current communications about the operation. Bovino stressed that the risk to agents in the field has grown, noting the uptick in assaults against federal personnel since the operation began in the region.
