Albany Park Community Protests Federal Immigration Arrest in Horner Park

Approximately 100 community members gathered Tuesday evening in Horner Park for a planned demonstration following the detention of a man by federal immigration agents the previous day in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood.

The protest centered on an incident that occurred Tuesday morning near Lawrence and Kedzie avenues. Witnesses at the scene reported federal agents pursuing a man through traffic before taking him into custody. According to accounts shared during the demonstration, agents deployed a Taser during the arrest, and one federal vehicle collided with a civilian’s car while attempting to stop the individual.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the operation targeted 26-year-old Omar Jesus Martinez Sifontes, identified as a Venezuelan national who allegedly entered the United States illegally in 2023. In a statement, DHS asserted that Sifontes assaulted officers, attempted to flee on foot, and continued resisting arrest. The agency also stated that a crowd it described as “anti-ICE agitators” surrounded officers and government vehicles during the apprehension. DHS further claimed one individual spray-painted ICE vehicles before fleeing and striking a street light pole.

Community members at the protest expressed concerns about immigration enforcement practices. One local teen, who spoke on condition of anonymity, shared that a family member had been previously detained by ICE. “I had somebody in my family taken, so I do feel like very close to like these people. I do understand their suffering,” the teen said. They described the emotional toll of family separations, noting that cousins are “growing up without a father.”

The protester also voiced exaggerated criticism of current immigration policies: “I don’t believe that Trump has the right to use ICE as his personal Gestapo to just run around illegally grabbing people that look Latino against their rights.”

Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, who represents the area, attended the demonstration and emphasized the importance of community solidarity. She encouraged residents to continue showing up to support neighbors who may feel afraid or discouraged by recent enforcement actions.

Participants called for greater transparency and accountability in federal immigration operations as the peaceful protest concluded.