A protester kicks a tear gas canister away. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

By Dominic Guanzon

Saturday, 12/6/25

ELGIN, IL — About 30 to 40 federal agents, about half marked as ICE, deployed at least six tear gas canisters, pepper balls, and baton rounds at over 200 protesters in a residential neighborhood on Maple Lane in the Kane County side of Elgin.

According to multiple rapid responders who wished to remain anonymous, a person was involved in some kind of car collision with federal agents in Elgin some time after 9AM. That person was then chased by agents into the second story of an apartment building on Maple Lane, where they took refuge in the outside balcony. Agents surrounded the building, but did not enter the apartment, likely due to lacking a warrant to enter.

Federal agents look up at the balcony of a second-story apartment, where a person they are chasing has taken refuge in. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

The trapped person on the second-story balcony catches a bag of supplies, thrown by a neighbor from a nearby balcony. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

Soon after, rapid responders, protesters, National Lawyers Guild observers, press, and locals arrived throughout the day, forming a crowd. People recorded, streamed, and repeatedly engaged the agents verbally, forcing the feds to maintain a perimeter. Protesters were especially keen on asking for a warrant, asking more as the situation dragged on into the afternoon.

Neighbors were seen tossing supplies across second-story balconies to the person being chased by agents, who was wrapped in a red blanket attempting to call people, before their phone battery died.

The protesters grew in size and cycled in/out. About a dozen pizzas, a dozen cases of water bottles and water jugs, snacks, hand warmers, medical masks, and other supplies were distributed in spontaneous acts of mutual aid. Locals were seen with stacks of cups and pitchers of coffee, serving the protesters.

A stack of Little Caesars pizzas, donuts, and cases of water, which protesters could take at will. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

A protester adds a case of water to a pile of water jugs and snacks, which protesters could take at will. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

Stacks of coffee cups and paper towels on a stroller, next to a cooler dispenser of coffee, which were handed out to protesters by locals. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

During a verbal altercation around 12:30PM, agents pulled a protester to the ground and deployed a can of pepper spray on others, in footage from Sophia Peterson, reposted by Gregory Royal Pratt. Elgin resident Tracy also reported being pushed to the ground by an agent with a baton, after which an agent that appeared to hold a higher rank told the agent “do not engage,” holding the first agent back.

The 12:30 incident then escalated to the use of two to three tear gas canisters, in footage taken by Randi Gomez and re-posted by Kevin Ortega-Rojas. When some protesters threw the canisters back at the agents, the latter were filmed tripping and scrambling in the snow in an attempt to throw the canisters again.

The protester thrown to the ground was released, according to Tracy, who talked to the individual while back on the protest line, asking about what had happened.

The bottom of a tear gas canister (top left) from the 12:30 escalation lays next to a pile of snow. Under the pile is the top part of the canister. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

A protester stands their ground as ICE agents approach them on the sidewalk. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

A federal agent with a suppressed firearm. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

An NLG legal observer counts the number of federal agents. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

Later, local politicians arrived on the scene, including State Senators Karina Villa (D, 25th) and Cristina Castro (D, 22nd). Villa was seen on a megaphone attempting to communicate in Spanish with the person being chased, asking about who to contact. Meanwhile, Castro was seen with a gas mask and alongside another person with a first aid bag.

Rapid responders informed the politicians they were in contact with the person’s family.

Elgin Police Department was present at least in the afternoon, but pulled back, appearing to surrender control of the situation to the federal agents.

At about 1:20PM, while agents were occupying the street, one protester began yelling at the agents aggressively, but staying on the sidewalk. One agent, brandishing a grenade launcher and wearing a bandolier full of a dozen baton rounds, shouted back “it’s not worth getting these women and children hurt because of you,” implying the agents were willing to harm the whole crowd to target one individual.

A federal agent with a grenade launcher. At about 1:20PM, they entered a verbal exchange with a protester. The agent said “it’s not worth getting these women and children hurt because of you,” implying the agents were willing to harm the whole crowd to target one individual. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

Karina Villa (D, 25th). Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

State Senator Cristina Castro (D, 22nd). Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

A child looks out the window at ICE agents on the street Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

A little before 3PM, multiple agents entered the apartment where the person was holding up on the balcony. Deep thumps were heard, and agents were seen with battering rams and ballistic shields.

At 3PM, right before agents left the apartment, a loud bang could be seen and heard about 150 feet away from the scene in an empty lawn, alarming the protest crowd, but not causing any harm. It is unknown what the device was, or who deployed it. Speculation ran between a firework launched by a local, to a distraction grenade (flashbang sans flash) thrown by an agent.

One minute later, agents were seen leaving the area and pulling back. The Chicago Sun-Times reported seeing the person on the balcony being escorted by agents out of the apartment.

A protester holding a large Mexican flag observers agents discussing outside the apartment building. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

A protester angrily points at an ERO/ICE agent, while others watch the driveway of the apartment building. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

Agents prepare to enter the apartment where a person had been chased inside. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

About one to two minutes after that, agents pulled back eastward to leave the subdivision, with the assembled protesters following them on the street. Despite having a clear road to exit, as protesters were either behind or to the side of them, the agents still felt threatened. The agents then deployed another round of tear gas, in addition to baton rounds and pepper balls, while moving.

Protesters worked quickly to cover as many canisters as they could with snow, as others pivoted to providing aid to the gas victims.

Some protesters threw snow and water bottles towards agents, with some landing on vehicles. One snowball landed on an ICE agent, bursting into powder and appearing to cause no harm. The agents responded by yelling they were going to arrest whoever did it and tossed another tear gas canister into the crowd.

Attorney Robert Held runs while streaming with a phone and a megaphone, as a federal agent is mid-throw with a tear gas canister. Another agent points his grenade launcher. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

A tear gas canister ignites in the snow. A volunteer with a water jug (center, back) rushes to put out the gas. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

A group of people rush to kick snow on top of a tear gas canister. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

A person screams as agents prepare to escalate. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

An ICE agent aims a grenade launcher while also holding a pepper spray can. Elgin, IL, 12/6/25.

At one point, ICE agents on the street tossed a tear gas canister at this author’s feet as I was standing alone in an open lawn, at least 30 feet away from the nearest agent, while wearing a helmet adorned with “PRESS” patches and taking photos.

Elgin PD came back onto the scene once agents had left, much to the anger of the locals, who berated them for “doing nothing” and “being useless.” Officers said they were responding to a 911 call, and talked to someone, before leaving again.

Afterwards, responders and protesters tended to each other. Copious amounts of water was poured on tear gas victims, who then had to contend with the after-effects of being doused with cold water in twenty degree weather.

A couple reported they were in the process of backing away when they were struck with pepper balls by ICE at point-blank range, with one of them being struck in the back after turning away. Red marks were observed on shins, which could not be displayed here due to the presence of tattoos.

NLG observers took photos of, and collected, expended tear gas canisters and baton rounds, as locals pointed out more for them to take.