An Indian-American employee of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) was stopped and questioned by masked agents while working at a construction site in Park Ridge, Illinois. The incident has sparked outrage and accusations of racial profiling from state officials, including Governor JB Pritzker.
The IDOT worker, a U.S. citizen, was working on the Busse Highway resurfacing project when he was approached by three masked individuals. According to the governor's office, the agents questioned him about his immigration status, whether he had traveled to New York, and if he was aware of Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City. After the worker presented identification proving his citizenship, he was released.
Governor Pritzker has strongly condemned the incident, calling it "deeply troubling" and part of a broader pattern of racial profiling by federal officials. He stated that it is unacceptable to stop and question state employees "apparently based on the color of their skin". "Our state employees should be able to go to work and do their jobs without masked agents targeting them for no legitimate reason,” Pritzker said.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified that the agents involved were not from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. However, the incident has fueled concerns about immigration enforcement activities in the Chicago area.
Reports indicate that similar immigration enforcement actions have occurred across Chicago recently. There are reports that ICE and Border Patrol teams carried out operations in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods. Federal agents also allegedly entered a North Centre daycare without a warrant and arrested a teacher.
The questioning of the IDOT worker and other recent immigration enforcement actions have sparked fear and anxiety among residents, particularly in immigrant communities. Some schools have even instructed students and teachers to remain indoors following reports of federal agents in the area.
The incident involving the Indian-American worker is currently under review by Illinois officials. Governor Pritzker has emphasized the state's commitment to protecting its employees and citizens from racial profiling and harassment. He has called for accountability and transparency from federal authorities regarding their enforcement activities.
