Southern Illinois News

Blaine Wilhour, an Illinois state representative, has called for stronger support of law enforcement in response to alleged assaults on federal agents and ongoing unrest. He criticized the governor's approach in a statement made on X.

"Left-wing domestic terrorism," said Blaine Jacob Wilhour, State Representative from Illinois. "This is brought to you because Gov. Pritzker is more concerned about fighting Donald Trump than he is protecting law enforcement and actual citizens. Pathetic. Law and Order in Chicago now!"

According to federal and local reports, a confrontation related to immigration enforcement occurred in the Chicago area. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that agents were "rammed & boxed in by 10 cars" during patrols near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview and the Brighton Park neighborhood. The incident involved a woman being shot and wounded by agents, subsequent protests, and federal claims of deploying special operations to manage growing crowds. This has intensified debates over public safety and interagency coordination.

CBS Chicago and WBEZ cited DHS statements indicating that agents were surrounded by "10 cars," prompting officers to exit their vehicles before shots were fired, hitting a female driver whom DHS alleged was armed. Reporters documented the use of tear gas and pepper balls during the protests. The shooting location was later identified as Brighton Park, following initial references to Broadview by federal sources. These accounts, along with video segments and timelines, form the core public record of the weekend’s events.

A DHS news release claimed that "Pritzker’s Chicago Police Department is leaving the shooting scene and refuses to assist us," asserting that federal special operations were deployed amid a growing crowd. However, local TV coverage reported seeing Chicago police alongside federal agencies at the site, while separate reports highlighted Chicago Police Department (CPD) disputing DHS's characterization. These competing statements highlight strain in interagency coordination and underscore the need for clear incident command protocols during rapidly evolving public safety operations.

Wilhour is a Republican member of the Illinois House representing the 110th District since his election in 2018. A farmer and small-business owner from Beecher City, he previously served on the Fayette County Board and in the Illinois Army National Guard from 1999 to 2005. Wilhour focuses on public safety, lower taxes, and regulatory reform while maintaining district offices for constituent services across south-central Illinois.