ICE Raid Near Elmhurst, With Woman Denouncing Agents

ELMHURST, IL – Reports surfaced last week that ICE agents conducted a raid in Elmhurst.

It was actually at an apartment complex a few blocks north of the city limit in Bensenville, just south of White Pines Golf Club.

The apartment complex is within Elmhurst School District 205.

Elmhurst resident Mandy Puchalski took a video at the complex, which is at Sonny Lane and Ferrari Drive. She spoke to the Elmhurst City Council about it Monday.

In her five-minute video last Wednesday, more than a dozen federal agents could be seen, most of them masked. She told the council that she counted 26 in all.

"That level of force was unnecessary and intended to intimidate," Puchalski said. "They didn't even detain the individual they were looking for. Instead, they took an 18-year-old."

In the video, Puchalski questioned agents about the operation. She said they are removing people who are contributing members of society with no criminal records.

"Don't pretend that everybody you're taking is some pedophile who beats kids. Don't play that narrative," she said. "I'm all for you taking hardened criminals. I'm all for it. That's not happening."

An unmasked agent replied that Illinois used to cooperate and turn over murderers, rapists and pedophiles, but no longer does. He may have been referring to the law that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed in 2017. It reduced the state's cooperation with ICE and barred the imprisonment of people based solely on immigration status.

Other people could be heard quietly supporting Puchalski. A woman whispered, "Good for you," while a man said, "I'm with you 100 percent."

For her part, Puchalski told the agents, "I don't recognize this f– country" and that as a Christian, "it's hard for me to be quiet."

At the council meeting, Puchalski said some residents are afraid to leave their homes.

"People are carrying passports with them out of fear of being racially profiled and detained."

An ICE operation took place last Wednesday at an apartment complex in Bensenville, just a few blocks north of Elmhurst. (Google Maps)