Archive · 9 Nov 2025
ICE Agents Question US Citizen, Sparking Racial Profiling Claims
Imagine some government agents wearing masks stopped a man who was fixing roads in Illinois.
They asked him questions about where he was from and if he knew a politician named Zohran Mamdani.
The man they stopped was actually a US citizen and an employee of the state, doing his job.
The governor of Illinois was very upset and said this was like profiling people based on their skin color.
He thinks it's wrong to stop citizens like this.
The government agency that handles immigration said the agents were not from their usual departments, but it was still a week with a lot of immigration activity in the area, including agents stopping people.
This happened after the new mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, expressed his views on immigration raids.
Masked agents questioned an Indian-origin Illinois Department of Transportation worker about his immigration status and knowledge of NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
The worker is a US citizen who was on duty at the time of the questioning on a road project.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the incident, calling it 'racial profiling' and questioning the targeting of US citizens.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied that the agents were from ICE or CBP.
The incident occurred during a period of heightened federal immigration activity in the Chicago area.
- Who
- Three masked agents (reportedly ICE) and an Indian-origin US citizen, an employee of the Illinois Department of Transportation.
- What
- The agents questioned the IDOT worker about his immigration status and knowledge of NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani while he was on duty. This occurred amidst increased federal immigration activity.
- When
- On duty at a construction project site, following NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's election and during a period of heightened federal immigration activity.
- Where
- On a construction project near the Park Ridge area in Illinois.
- Why
- Governor Pritzker alleges racial profiling and questioning of US citizens without legitimate reason. The incident is framed within a context of aggressive federal immigration enforcement.
Governor Pritzker's Stance
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Nature of the agents and their actions
Governor Pritzker's Stance
Governor Pritzker stated that masked ICE agents questioned a US citizen while he was on duty and condemned the action as racial profiling, suggesting state employees should not be targeted without legitimate reason.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The Department of Homeland Security has denied that the agents involved were from ICE or CBP.
Justification for the questioning
Governor Pritzker's Stance
Pritzker questions the reason for targeting a US citizen and implies it was based on appearance, linking it to aggressive immigration policies.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The DHS did not provide an alternative explanation for the agents' actions or the questioning of the US citizen.
- Location of Incident
- Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) work site near Park Ridge, Illinois
- Worker's Status
- US Citizen, Indian-origin, IDOT employee on duty
- Agents Involved
- Three masked agents, reportedly ICE
- Questions Asked
- Immigration status and knowledge of NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani
- Governor's Reaction
- Condemned as racial profiling, questioning the targeting of US citizens
- Agency Response
- DHS denied agents were from ICE or CBP
- Broader Context
- Heightened federal immigration activity and aggressive deportation policies
