Federal Immigration Agent Punches Restrained Man After Evanston Car Crash Amid Community Backlash

A violent confrontation occurred in Evanston, Illinois, after a sedan collided with a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle, leading to the arrest of three people. Video footage shows a federal agent repeatedly punching a man who was already restrained on the ground, sparking public outrage and condemnation from local officials, including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leave the city. The Department of Homeland Security defended the agent’s actions as "defensive strikes," citing that the man had grabbed the agent inappropriately and that the agents were surrounded by a hostile crowd. The incident also involved federal agents using pepper spray on bystanders, punching a man who approached them, and pointing a gun at a woman near their vehicle. This episode is part of a broader immigration enforcement operation in the Chicago area under President Donald Trump, which has prompted local communities to form "rapid response" teams to monitor and document federal agents’ activities. The Illinois attorney general’s office is now collecting video evidence to investigate the incident further.