Raids continue despite calls for Halloween pause

No Halloween halt

Despite calls from U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis and Gov. JB Pritzker to pause immigration enforcement while kids celebrated Halloween, DHS agents seemed to ramp up actions, on Friday arresting U.S. citizens and workers across the Northwest Side and suburbs.

• Witnesses told ABC that DHS agents caused a car accident with a red vehicle that followed them in Evanston. Video shows agents dragging out the driver and passenger and throwing them to the ground, while pulling a weapon on one bystander.

What they're saying: At a grade school near the incident Friday, Mayor Daniel Biss said agents "assaulted" and "abducted" local residents. He admonished ICE to "get the hell out of Evanston."

The other side: DHS officials say the red vehicle was "aggressively" tailgating the agents and hit them when they were trying to make a U-turn.

• They say bystanders verbally abused agents, and one arrestee squeezed an "agent's genitals" during an apprehension.

Reps call for investigation

Illinois' Democratic congressional delegation is demanding that the oversight office of DHS investigate multiple reports of "dangerous, often violent conduct" by federal immigration agents during recent local operations.

What they're saying: "Dozens of individuals — including American citizens — have been detained without judicial warrants, legal notification, or access to legal counsel," the delegation's letter says.

• At local schools, "classes are being disrupted, and students are being traumatized by ICE arrests."

Reality check: U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley acknowledged at a Friday press conference that progress could be slow under Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who doesn't support the investigation.

• But if Democrats retake the House in the midterms, Quigley says, that could change.

Accusations against police

During the congressional press conference, Lakeview resident Leo Feler said in October federal agents committed assault, trespassing, property damage and kidnapping at his home.

• He said Chicago police resisted his initial attempts to report the incident. But after he finally did, he "got a call from a sergeant saying they would not be able to continue ... because [CPD] higher-ups told him not to pursue it."

The other side: Chicago police confirmed to Axios that the Lakeview homeowner filed a report on Oct. 27 in the 19th District.

• But CPD officials did not answer Axios' questions about whether they ever followed up on the report and if CPD can ever help Chicagoans who witness crimes by people claiming to be immigration officers.

Broadview facility suit

The first class-action lawsuit against "inhumane" conditions at the Broadview ICE facility was filed Friday by a man who, the Tribune reports, had entered the country legally and secured a work permit, but was deported anyway.

• In the suit, the father of four U.S. citizens alleges he was coerced into signing a voluntary departure waiver at the Broadview facility, described in the complaint as a "black box."

Illinoisans can sue federal agents

The General Assembly passed a bill allowing state residents to sue federal immigration agents for violating their constitutional rights, offering extra punitive damages if agents conceal their identity, fail to wear body cameras or obscure their license plate.

• The bill also bans immigration arrests in and around state courthouses.
• Sponsor Sen. Don Harmon (D) said he knows it will likely face legal challenges, "but it doesn't mean it's not the right thing to do."

Communion denied

A group of clergy, joined by local elected officials, hosted a prayer vigil Saturday at the Broadview ICE facility, but DHS officials denied a request to allow the clergy to enter to offer Communion to detainees.