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ICE agent grabs, handcuffs Chicago alderperson at hospital ER in viral video: ‘America is in deep trouble’

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes asked the ICE agents if they had a warrant to make an arrest. In a video, one of the federal agents was captured shoving her.

Published on: Oct 4, 2025, 07:16:14 IST
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A video showing federal immigration agents shoving and handcuffing a Chicago official has sparked outrage on social media. Reportedly, the incident occurred when alderperson Jessie Fuentes confronted some ICE agents inside the ER at Humboldt Park Health.

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes was handcuffed by ICE agents when she confronted them at Humboldt Park Health. (Screengrab (X))
Alderperson Jessie Fuentes was handcuffed by ICE agents when she confronted them at Humboldt Park Health. (Screengrab (X))

A video now going viral on social media shows the official confronting two men, one of whom has his face covered. During the interaction, one of the men suddenly grabs and puts handcuffs on the official.

Can ICE agents come to the emergency room?

The director of the hospital where the incident occurred said that the immigration agents can come into the emergency rooms, but they are not allowed inside the operating theatre,” reported ABC Eyewitness News.

Also Read: Who is Barbara Marques? ICE detains film director during green card appointment

The establishment has not revealed the identity of the individual whom the ICE agents were trying to detain originally.

How did social media react?

An individual wrote, “Absolutely ridiculous and shameful.” Another commented, “America is in deep trouble.” A third remarked, “Those thugs better have charges against them. There was no need to assault her so brutally.”

Chicago Mayor’s statement:

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the issue in a statement on X. “Chicago’s elected officials have a First Amendment right to document ICE’s actions and to inform their constituents of their rights without federal interference. Any attempt to block this work is a direct attack on democratic accountability and an assault on the rights of the people of Chicago. ICE detained a sitting elected official while raiding an emergency room. Earlier this afternoon, they deployed tear gas indiscriminately in the middle of a city street,” the mayor said.

Also Read: ICE mocked as video of food delivery rider escaping agents goes viral: 'Now that's a Chi-town biker'

“ICE’s abusive tactics have no place in our city, and our elected officials will continue to stand with residents against this attempt to stoke fear and intimidation,” he added.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More