On July 8, 2025, federal agents believed to be from Homeland Security occupied the parking lot of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture in Humboldt Park with around 15 DHS vehicles, conducting an operation that lasted nearly two hours.

The agents did not show warrants or identification when asked and entered the museum facilities, which alarmed staff and community members, raising fears of targeted federal actions against the immigrant community.

Museum staff and local officials described the agents' presence as intimidating and a form of Gestapo-style intimidation, especially as the agents discussed upcoming community festivals and surveyed the area.

Community leaders, including local officials and immigrant advocates, condemned the incident, viewing it as an intentional scare tactic aimed at undocumented residents and cultural institutions.

U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez announced plans to explore legal options concerning the DHS operation, criticizing the tactics as authoritarian and emphasizing the need to protect community rights.

Chicago officials and representatives criticized the federal agents' actions, linking them to broader efforts to increase immigration enforcement and suppress dissent within immigrant communities.

The Department of Homeland Security has yet to respond to requests for comment, though DHS officials stated the agents were there for a narcotics investigation, not targeting the museum or community.

The incident occurred just days before major Latino cultural festivals like Barrio Arts Fest and Colombian Fest, raising concerns about federal overreach during these large community gatherings.

The incident has heightened fears of targeted immigration enforcement during culturally significant events, with community members and museum staff feeling threatened and frustrated.

Local officials and community leaders condemned the tactics, emphasizing that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and should not be subjected to unwarranted searches or intimidation.

Officials, including Ald. Jessie Fuentes and Ald. Anthony Quezada, condemned the DHS actions as scare tactics aimed at intimidating undocumented residents and cultural institutions, with Quezada calling it an 'intentional scare tactic'.

Skepticism remains about DHS's explanations, as officials question why agents staged the operation on private property and why they did not show warrants or proper identification.