A high-speed car chase involving federal immigration agents ended dramatically at Warren Township High School’s O’Plaine Campus in Gurnee, Illinois, on Thursday morning, causing chaos and confusion among students and staff.
The 10-minute pursuit began with an attempted traffic stop by Border Patrol agents outside Gurnee. The agents were pursuing two men, later identified as Mexican nationals who had been previously deported for felony offenses.
Chase Ends on School Grounds
Shortly after 8:20 a.m., the suspect vehicle, speeding west on Grand Avenue, lost a tire. Despite the damage, the car continued before turning onto O’Plaine Road, driving near the entrance of the high school.
The two suspects immediately exited the vehicle and ran toward the school building. One man entered the high school, and the other was apprehended outside. Federal agents quickly detained the suspect inside the school, reportedly in a classroom area used for special programming.
Warren Township High School District 121 Superintendent Daniel Woestman confirmed that the federal agents were on campus for roughly three minutes. Woestman stated that the timing, which coincided with students arriving, led to “chaos and confusion.”
“There were students that were actively coming out of the door while one of the suspects entered into the door,” Woestman said, noting that some physical contact likely occurred between the student and federal agent during the chase.
DHS Identifies Suspects as Violent Criminals
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the two arrested individuals and detailed their extensive criminal histories:
- Josafat Garcia-Roa: Previously deported for multiple DUIs, felony cocaine possession, multiple domestic batteries, assaults, and violation of bail bond.
- Samuel Suarez-Cuevas: Previously deported for kidnapping, multiple counts of domestic violence and battery, and criminal damage.
DHS stated that the suspects “recklessly endangered the public by starting a highspeed car chase and then driving onto school grounds, possibly to seek protection since they are ‘ICE Free Zones.'”
DHS asserted that while they do not conduct enforcement near schools, they will not allow “criminal illegal aliens” to endanger the public.
The Gurnee Police Department confirmed they were not involved in the pursuit or the arrests. No injuries were reported to anyone on campus or to motorists in the area. The school is providing extra support for students affected by the stressful incident.
