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FOX 32 News at 9 Sunday
Federal agents detained nearly a dozen rideshare drivers in a raid yesterday at O'Hare.
CHICAGO - Federal immigration agents arrested 11 people during an operation on Saturday at parking lots near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
What we know:
The rideshare staging lot at O’Hare International has nearly 500 fewer vehicles these days.
Uber and Lyft drivers say they are afraid to work at the airport since federal agents raided the lot multiple times, with the most recent being Saturday.
Videos show a driver working legally with a green card. Federal agents were seen questioning drivers waiting to pick up O’Hare passengers. Drivers were taken into custody.
Other rideshare drivers say illegal drivers have saturated the market. One driver pointed out that people working illegally make it unsafe for passengers and drivers.
Mohammad Rashid, an Uber & Lyft driver for six years, said drivers who don’t have an account operate under another driver’s account.
He explained, "For example, you don’t have an account, but I come to ask you, ‘Can you sign in? And I coming to rent that from you and I work under your name.’ There is too many people doing that."
Rashid added, "O’Hare is a very sensitive spot as passenger, to pick up a passenger. There is million passengers coming every day. So, we need to protect those people as a driver."
Rashid said, "Before you get in the car, check the plate number and you’ll be fine after that. And focus about the face, who driving to you. It’s the same person or not. If you don’t feel comfortable don’t start the trip."
The Department of Homeland Security Assistant Sec. Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that Border Patrol arrested undocumented immigrants from Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and Venezuela.
McLaughlin said the individuals were accused of crimes including domestic battery, DUI, visa overstay, and a final order of removal, although she did not specify who was accused of which alleged crime.
"The fact of the matter is those who are in this country illegally have a choice. They can use the CBP Home app and receive a free flight and a $1,000 check or they can be arrested, detained, and deported," McLaughlin said in the statement.
Also on Saturday Border Patrol Chief Agent Gregory Bovino said in a post on X, "We arrested dozens of illegal alien ride share operators taking jobs from American citizens out there last week. More to come."
Bailey Koch, a spokesperson with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 said the union was aware of multiple drivers being detained at an O’Hare parking lot.
"We are working diligently to locate the drivers who were detained and get them and their families necessary and critical resources," Koch said.
Koch added that Local 1 has been working with the City of Chicago to provide security for the lot to "ensure that the only people who have access to that lot are people with the necessary credentials."
The backstory:
The arrests come as rideshare drivers who frequent Chicago’s airports are fearful of being targeted for arrest.
Last week, Fox 32 reported that rideshare drivers shared pictures and videos of federal agents approaching drivers as they stopped to eat or pray outside their cars.
Uber and Lyft drivers use an airport lot as a waiting station to respond to ride requests from passengers at the airport.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights warned rideshare drivers of the arrests and asked anyone who witnessed an arrest or the families of those arrested to contact them at 855-435-7693.