As a federal judge imposes new limits on the actions of ICE in Chicago, more videos continue to surface. They depict violence, cruelty, and aggression toward citizens, many of which are unprovoked. In a video taken on Kedzie Avenue, three border patrol officers assaulted one man. The reason? It’s still unclear, even after they threatened an innocent bystander attempting to help.
In the video, we see a border patrol agent arguing with a Chicago local. The agent removes his gun before grabbing the man in a chokehold and attempting to tackle him to the ground. As he does, the man tries to remain upright by pushing back. Two more agents step in, helping to sweep the man’s feet out from under him. In the background, you can hear the bystander yell, “No!”
As the man lies on the ground, subdued, the bystander tries to explain that the man is innocent. “I was standing right here. He wasn’t doing anything!” She says. As the fourth agent tries to corral her away from the man on the ground, he becomes agitated. “You’re next,” he can be heard saying as he ushers the woman away.
Viewers watching the video expressed a range of emotions over the unnecessary violence. “The excessive force is terrifying,” one TikTok user commented. Another said, “Why is no one talking about how that is not a normal tackle? That is literally him [border patrol] essentially trying to choke him. Then he proceeds to tackle him.”
Others emphasized the show of police brutality. “If a U.S. soldier did that to an unarmed enemy combatant in a combat zone, he would likely be court-martialled… Just saying,” one user said. One viewer pointed out the legality of the bystander and how she was following the law despite being threatened. “‘You’ll stand where I tell you to stand or you’re next.’ She’s standing on a public sidewalk or easement. Either way, it’s public property. She has the constitutional right to stand there and film. What’s happening?”
