DHS 'Conducts Investigation At Home In Crystal Lake': Police

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — The Department of Homeland Security was in Crystal Lake on Tuesday "conducting an investigation at a residence in Crystal Lake," local police said.

Rumors have been circulating that the investigation involved an ICE raid as fears continue to circulate locally, and across the U.S., in the wake of the immigration sweeps. In Chicago on Tuesday, at least 100 people were arrested as part of the immigration crackdown, according to media reports.

In Crystal Lake, a large police presence was reported in the 200 block of Church Street between 4:45 and 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to a Patch.com reader who shared video of the incident. Patch.com reached out to Crystal Lake police to get more information and learned local authorities were notified by the Department of Homeland Security Tuesday morning and learned they were conducting an investigation at a home in Crystal Lake.

"I was not informed about the specific details regarding the activity. Additionally, Crystal Lake Police Department personnel were not involved in the investigation," Richard Neumann, deputy chief of police for the Crystal Lake Police Department, told Patch.

Local police could not provide any additional details. Patch.com reached out to he U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for more details but has not heard back, yet.

A neighbor living on Church Street reported there were a number of police vehicles and even a helicopter in the neighborhood. An officer can be heard in the video announcing they were serving a warrant during the "pretty intense apprehension."

"The last hour was particularly tense - almost seemed like a standoff," the Patch.com reader said.

In the video, an officer can be heard throughout the neighborhood saying "this is the police, hold your hands up. We have a warrant for your arrest."

Mass deportations got underway last week after President Donald Trump officially took office. The directive give federal authorities "authority to investigate and apprehend illegal aliens," according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.

“Thanks to the last Administration’s open border policies, we’ve seen violent criminals and gang members terrorize American communities. Today’s action empowers law enforcement officials at the DOJ to help identify and apprehend aliens who have illegally come into our country," said acting Department of Homeland Security secretary Benjamine Huffman. "Mobilizing these law enforcement officials will help fulfill President Trump’s promise to the American people to carry out mass deportations. For decades, efforts to find and apprehend illegal aliens have not been given proper resources. This is a major step in fixing that problem.”