Federal agents reported in multiple North Side neighborhoods as Chicago schools tighten safety protocols

CHICAGO (WGN) — Federal agents were spotted in several North Side Chicago neighborhoods Friday afternoon, concerning residents and putting some Chicago Public Schools under a soft lockdown.

Outside Drummond Montessori in Bucktown, parents and community members gathered during school dismissal to support families after hearing reports of agents nearby.

“Today we are doing a different version of pickup, so parents who don’t feel safe don’t have to get out of their cars,” parent Megan Johnson said.

WGN-TV has learned that Drummond Montessori and several other CPS schools sent letters to parents with safety updates and revised dismissal procedures. Pritzker Elementary confirmed they were under a soft lockdown.

In a statement, district officials say CPS schools remain a safe environment for students.

Videos shared with WGN-TV show agents across multiple neighborhoods. One video appears to show agents deploying teargas in Lakeview. However, it remains unclear what led to the incident.

Additionally, Chicago’s iconic Laugh Factory reported on social media that its night manager was detained by masked federal agents outside the club. WGN-TV is working to confirm details of the detainment.

Meanwhile, in West Town, residents gathered outside Erie Community Center after witnessing agents break a car window to detain a man.

“To see a resident of Chicago, their window smashed in, dragged from their vehicle, it’s a terror and a violence that is just unspeakable,” one neighbor said.

“It’s terrifying. It’s not the world I ever expected to raise my daughter in. The fact that she kind of sees what’s going on at four-years-old is not right,” Johnson said.

Several North Side organizations released a statement condemning what they say is an escalated immigration enforcement in which at least nine people were detained.

WGN-TV has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for more information.