Feds in military gear flood downtown Chicago, as border chief says people arrested based on ‘how they look’

While dozens of federal immigration agents took individuals into custody during a winding patrol through downtown Chicago on Sunday, a top U.S. Border Patrol official told WBEZ the agents were arresting people based on “how they look.”

Gregory Bovino, commander at large of the border force, even contrasted the people being arrested to a white WBEZ reporter, saying agents consider a person’s appearance before taking them into custody.

“You know, there’s many different factors that go into something like that,” Bovino said. “It would be agent experience, intelligence that indicates there’s illegal aliens in a particular place or location.”

“Then obviously the particular characteristics of an individual, how they look, how do they look compare to, say, you?” he said to the reporter, a tall, middle-aged man of Anglo descent.

The immigration agents were spotted making arrests in downtown Chicago and the River North neighborhood early Sunday. A Sun-Times photographer saw the agents, many of whom appeared to be with U.S. Border Patrol, make at least two arrests.

Agents, some of whom were masked, were walking north on Michigan Avenue from Millennium Park toward Tribune Tower. They then walked down Wacker Drive near Trump Tower, while some headed to the Riverwalk. They then made their way to River North.

Some passersby shouted at the agents telling them to go home and “ICE sucks.” One person shouted, “Thank you!” Another pedestrian said sarcastically: “Real patriotic, guys. Real patriotic.”

To read the full report, visit chicago.suntimes.com.