A screenshot from a video taken by a resident captured federal immigration agents approaching a vehicle driven by Waukegan Third Ward Alderman Juan A. Martinez on Friday. He said the agents pointed guns at him, leaving him frightened. | Provided Photo A Waukegan alderman says he is “deeply shaken” after federal immigration agents stopped their car in front of him, approached his car and pointed guns at him in Waukegan on Friday. Waukegan Third Ward Alderman Juan A. Martinez said he was driving back to work on Friday when he was confronted by federal agents on Baldwin Avenue in Waukegan. The agents stopped their vehicle in front of him, approached his vehicle and pointed guns at him as he was sitting behind the wheel. “I will be honest: I felt fear. I am a proud Latino leader, but no one should have to experience that kind of intimidation, especially from those sworn to uphold the law,” Martinez said. “I am deeply shaken, but I am also more determined than ever to stand with my community,” he said. Martinez said he is grateful to be safe but what happened to him should “never happen to anyone.” “We deserve accountability, respect, and the right to feel safe in our own city,” Martinez said, adding that Waukegan is a city that “chooses compassion over cruelty and unity over fear.” A U.S. Border Patrol convoy was deployed in Waukegan on Friday, prompting the Waukegan Police Department to respond as tensions flared with residents who confronted the agents, as part of ongoing immigration enforcement operations. | Photos: Gtz Nancy The alderman said he is thankful for Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham and the Waukegan Police Department for their assistance after the incident. Martinez filed a police report with the department and they are conducting an investigation into the incident. Cunningham said he was “shocked and deeply troubled” by what happened to Martinez. “No one should ever have a gun pointed at them by those sworn to protect the public. I am relieved that Alderman Martinez is safe,” Cunningham said. “Waukegan is a city that values compassion and unity. I stand with our community in rejecting fear and intimidation,” he added. Cunningham had issued a public warning around 12:45 p.m. Friday that there was an active presence of federal immigration agents in Waukegan. “Everyone, know your rights and stay calm. If you see activity involving federal agents or need assistance, contact the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)’s support hotline: (855) 435-7693. Be safe, Waukegan,” Cunningham said. U.S. Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino was spotted at the Exxon gas station at Glen Rock Avenue and Belvidere Road in Waukegan on Friday afternoon as a Border Patrol convoy was deployed to the Waukegan area as part of ongoing immigration enforcement operations. | Photos: Promociones Noticias Y Más Some residents were angry with the mayor and said that his own police department was assisting the federal agents on Friday. “Why is Waukegan PD supporting them?” one person said on social media. Video showed one officer shaking hands with one of the agents. Another person asked, “How can anyone stay calm?” in response to Cunningham’s statement and added that Waukegan is “full of drones at night, helicopter over the city, masked men not identifying themselves, arrests are happening without warrants, and court rulings are not being enforced.” The Waukegan Police Department issued a statement Friday evening saying they understand that the presence of federal immigration agents has caused fear and anger in our community and they “want to remind everyone to be safe.” “Our top priority is to protect the people of Waukegan. To clear any confusion caused by videos on social media of officers with the Waukegan Police Department interacting with federal immigration agents, our officers respond to the scene to keep and maintain order, and, above all, keep everyone safe,” the department said. The statement said the police department is not cooperating with federal immigration agents. A U.S. Border Patrol convoy was deployed to the Waukegan area on Friday as part of ongoing immigration enforcement operations. | Photo: Promociones Noticias Y Más Police officials cited the Illinois TRUST Act, which prohibits local police in the state from participating or assisting in federal immigration enforcement. “We will continue to stand with our community and ensure that local law enforcement focuses on protecting people, not enforcing federal immigration laws,” the statement said. Earlier in the day, U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino was spotted with other U.S. Border Patrol agents at the Exxon gas station at Glen Rock Avenue and Belvidere Road in Waukegan. Bovino purchased drinks at the gas station before walking outside and playing rock-paper-scissors with another agent. A U.S. Border Patrol convoy was deployed to the Waukegan area on Friday as part of ongoing immigration enforcement operations. | Photo: Promociones Noticias Y Más A bystander said, “This is not a joke,” as Bovino, who was smiling and laughing, and the other agent played the game. A video captured the sound of motorists blaring their horns in the area to warn others about the immigration agents’ presence as bystanders yelled at the convoy of agents. Another video taken on Friday captured Bovino and another agent again playing rock, paper, scissors as they appeared to be staging at the BP gas station at Greenwood Avenue and Sheridan Road in Waukegan. The U.S. Border Patrol agents were first spotted in the Waukegan area around 10 a.m. Friday. Videos from residents showed multiple SUVs and vans in their convoy driving around the Waukegan area, including on the north and south sides of the city. A U.S. Border Patrol convoy was deployed to the Waukegan area on Friday as part of ongoing immigration enforcement operations. | Photo: Promociones Noticias Y Más The agents were spotted near Glen Flora Elementary School, the Home Depot and in downtown Waukegan, among other places. Agents were also on foot in an alley near Clayton Street and Genesee Street. A witness reported two arrests were made by the agents at Cribb Fine Foods, 626 Franklin Street in Waukegan. Bovino is a high-ranking official with the U.S. Border Patrol. He is the commander tasked with leading the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown in the Chicago area. Bovino recently appeared in federal court amid a lawsuit against the Trump administration, leading to a judge issuing a temporary restraining order prohibiting agents from using tear gas and other riot control weapons against those who do not pose an immediate threat.