Were ICE or federal agents in Winnetka Tuesday? Town officials don’t think so.

Reports circulating on social media say that federal immigration agents were on the ground Tuesday in Winnetka and other North Shore communities.

But village and law enforcement officials told The Record that they have no knowledge of any such activity and have not confirmed any local sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Tensions are high across Chicagoland two days after uniformed U.S. border-patrol agents marched en masse across highly visible locations in Chicago, as reported by Block Club Chicago.

Block Club also reported that federal agents swarmed a South Side apartment building early Tuesday and detained a family (man, woman and two children) at Millennium Park on Sunday. All of this coming after protesters occasionally were met with violent response at an ICE processing facility in Broadview, Illinois.

At a press conference on Monday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said that the Department of Homeland Security is sending 100 troops to Chicago to support and protect immigration enforcement — the latest development in President Donald Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz, an immigration crackdown in Chicago announced on Sept. 8.

Reports of federal agents in Winnetka parks surfaced and spread Tuesday morning; however, a Village spokesperson and Police Chief Brian O’Connell said they had no knowledge of any federal activity on Tuesday. Northfield Village Manager Patrick Brennan said the same about reported activity in the neighboring community.

A spokesperson from FBI’s Chicago office, which often participates in local federal activity, said its agents did not participate in any north-suburban operation on Tuesday.

ICE’s Chicago field office did not immediately return an email from The Record.

Learning of the unconfirmed reports coming out of Winnetka, some local organizations on Tuesday took the moment to remind residents of their rights when approached by immigration officers.

New Trier Township posted to social media the phone number (847-737-4042) for the North Shore Legal Aid Clinic, a local nonprofit that provides free legal services in specific areas, including immigration.

The legal aid clinic also on Tuesday posted to Facebook images promoting the clinic’s “Know Your Rights” flyers, which include information on the right to remain silent, right to an attorney, and protections against illegal search and seizure.

Patrick Hanley, a candidate for the Illinois’ 9th senate district, saw the potential activity as an opportunity to organize. Hanley said he wants to build a New Trier Rapid Response team that can collect and vet information on federal agents’ local activity. He created an online signup form already filled out by more than 60 individuals.

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