U.S. Citizen Warren King Wrongfully Detained During Chaotic Chicago Immigration Raid

What unfolded on Chicago’s East Side was a disturbing scene that should never happen to anyone—especially not to a young U.S. citizen simply shopping with family. Nineteen-year-old Warren King says he was at Walgreens when federal agents swarmed the store in pursuit of someone else. Without warning, he was tackled and arrested, leaving him physically hurt and emotionally shaken. Video captured loved ones desperately shouting, “He’s a citizen! He’s a citizen!”, but their voices were ignored.

King recalls pleading with the agents, telling them, “I’m a U.S. citizen. I’m here. I’m legal. I’m born here.” Yet, as he says, “they didn’t try to hear none of that.” He wasn’t charged with anything, but he was still detained for hours—forced to sit in a car with individuals he didn’t know, both of whom were undocumented. “I just graduated high school,” King said, shaken by how easily things escalated. “They can come for, literally, anybody. And that’s not right.”

The chaos stemmed from an earlier chase, where Border Patrol agents rammed a red SUV they claimed was driven by undocumented individuals who had “rammed” their vehicle. After using a PIT maneuver, agents detained the occupants, but the situation spiraled as armed teams swept through the neighborhood, crashing into bystanders' lives. Bystanders described confusion and fear—“I just see all the ICE guys on the floor with the guy… I was like, what’s happening?” said shopkeeper Hector Baldazua.

The community witnessed armed agents storm streets and trap innocent people. Video shows tear gas deployed as crowds chanted “ICE go home.” Even Chicago police, who arrived to de-escalate, were caught in the gas; 13 CPD officers were exposed. In the chaos, a 16-year-old boy was detained. His mother, Juanita Garnica, was frantic: “He’s not an immigrant. He was born and raised in Chicago.” She was given no answers—only fear.

Deputy Mayor Beatriz Ponce de Leon condemned the scene: “There is absolutely no reason to have this kind of chaos happening in our communities.” This wasn’t protection—it was terror. It sent one chilling message: citizenship offers no shield when power goes unchecked.

Link: ABC7