Federal authorities said two Venezuelan nationals were detained Tuesday morning in Chicago after a vehicle allegedly rammed a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle and fled, prompting a pursuit that ended with arrests and a confrontation between agents and protesters.

According to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson, the incident occurred near South Avenue N during an immigration enforcement operation.

“This morning while conducting an immigration enforcement operation in Chicago a vehicle, driven by an illegal alien, rammed a Border Patrol vehicle and attempted to flee the scene,” the spokesperson said.

“Border Patrol pursued the vehicle and was eventually able to stop it utilizing an authorized precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver. Once the vehicle was stopped, the suspects, who are both illegal aliens, attempted to flee on foot. As Border Patrol arrested the subjects and attempted to secure the scene a crowd began to form and eventually turned hostile and eventually crowd control measures were used.”

A senior DHS source identified the two individuals as Luis Gerardo Pirela-Ramirez and Yonder Enrique Tenefe-Perez, both from Venezuela.

The source said both were detained following the PIT maneuver and foot pursuits.

Officials said video captured at the scene shows objects being thrown and a roadway blocked as agents sought to secure the area. Federal officers deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd.

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In a follow-up statement describing broader enforcement concerns, the DHS spokesperson said, “This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. The fact that this attack was carried out by two illegal immigrants, highlights the need for federal law enforcement to continue to do their job of enforcing the laws of our nation —all while receiving no pay thanks to the Democrats’ government shutdown.”

The events come amid recent tensions surrounding federal immigration operations in Chicago.

Federal officials previously reported that officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were confronted in an incident they described as a “coordinated assault” by a convoy of roughly ten vehicles.

Local authorities were notified during that episode. Chicago police were reported to have been directed not to intervene; federal officials characterized that directive as a stand-down order.

Last week, President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem addressed that earlier episode, calling the stand-down order “illegal” and urging accountability for officials involved. Federal agencies have continued scheduled enforcement operations in the city.

Tuesday’s enforcement action began with mobile surveillance and vehicle interdiction procedures commonly used by Border Patrol tactical units in urban settings, according to officials familiar with the operation.

After the PIT maneuver brought the suspect vehicle to a stop, agents moved to detain the occupants.

The crowd formed shortly after the arrests began, officials said.

No injuries to agents were immediately reported.

Authorities did not release information about injuries among bystanders.

Homeland Security officials said both detainees would be processed according to federal immigration and criminal procedures.

Potential charges stemming from the vehicle-ramming allegation were referred to federal prosecutors.

The department said additional arrests related to the crowd confrontation were possible pending review of video evidence and agent reports.

The Chicago field offices for CBP and ICE have increased coordination with other federal partners during recent operations, according to officials, citing officer safety concerns and incident response planning.

Federal agencies said they are reviewing Tuesday’s use of crowd control measures under standard after-action protocols.

Local officials did not immediately release independent accounts of the incident near South Avenue N.

DHS said updates on charging decisions and custody status for the two detainees would be provided through standard public information channels once available.

Federal authorities reiterated that enforcement operations would continue in the Chicago area under existing priorities and guidelines.

DHS said it would evaluate security posture around field operations and adjust staffing as necessary in response to public safety conditions encountered during arrests and transport.