67-Year-Old US Citizen Suffers Broken Ribs During Border Patrol Operation at Chicago Halloween Parade: What Happened?

A 67-year-old US citizen experienced severe injuries, including six broken ribs causing internal bleeding, after Border Patrol agents forcibly removed him from his vehicle during an immigration enforcement operation in Chicago.

The disturbing incident occurred in Chicago's Old Irving Park neighborhood following the man's morning run, when he discovered the road blocked by federal agents. Video footage captured the violent encounter, showing agents tackling the elderly man to the ground while children attending a nearby Halloween parade witnessed the event.

According to reports from the New York Post, agents threatened to break the man's car window before physically removing him and applying handcuffs, prompting outraged cries from bystanders. The victim could be heard pleading with officers to release pressure as they knelt on his back during the restraint.

The confrontation took place during a broader immigration enforcement action that disrupted a children's Halloween celebration, with agents reportedly deploying tear gas without prior warning to those in the vicinity.

Recorded footage shows Border Patrol agents using tear gas and detaining multiple individuals. Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that agents employed crowd control measures because they felt threatened by hostile onlookers. However, eyewitnesses contradicted this narrative, describing the agents' approach as excessively aggressive and misdirected, claiming they targeted innocent individuals while disrupting a children's event.

The DWRunning Racing Team, the man's running club, issued a statement condemning the violence as "terrifying and has to stop."

Official statements indicate that agents were conducting an operation to apprehend an undocumented immigrant from Mexico with a prior assault arrest. McLaughlin asserted that federal officers issued multiple lawful commands and verbal warnings that were ignored, resulting in two US citizens being detained for allegedly assaulting and obstructing federal officers.

"During the operations, Border Patrol agents were surrounded by a group of agitators. Federal law enforcement issued multiple lawful commands and verbal warnings, all of which were ignored," explained McLaughlin.

"To safely clear the area after multiple warnings and the crowd continuing to advance on them, Border Patrol had to deploy crowd control measures," the statement continued.

This incident represents one of several violent clashes between federal agents and protestors since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched "Operation Midway Blitz" in Chicago last month. According to the department's announcement on social media platform X, this initiative targets undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds.