"Ben Bergquam, the rightwing internet personality, was with agents, filming and making content as well as getting into altercations with local residents along the way, according to a video the Guardian viewed on X. In the video, he appears to be in the car with Ice agents and nearby as they arrest people; later on he yells at a group of Chicagoans who are gathered to prevent Ice operations that they are the enemy within."
"Bergquam often travels to migrant shelters and protests, and has even filmed an Ice raid in Chicago previously to prove wrongdoing by those opposed to Donald Trump and his agenda. In a 2024 video he falsely claimed that Hurricane Helene victims wouldn't be helped out financially because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), which is a part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), spent all its money housing migrants in Chicago."
"Usually based in Fresno, California, Bergquam has been traveling to the Illinois city since at least 2019, according to Block Club Chicago, when he falsely accused a local pastor of being part of a transnational group that guided migrant caravans from Central and South America. He is a part of the same rightwing network, Real America's Voice News, that hosts shows by Steve Bannon, Charlie Kirk and other far-right figures."
Immigration and Customs Enforcement increased enforcement in Chicago while agents arrested four people on the city's south-west side. Ben Bergquam accompanied agents, filmed operations, and confronted local residents who sought to block enforcement. Bergquam has a pattern of traveling to migrant shelters and protests and previously filmed an ICE raid in Chicago. He has spread false claims, including alleging FEMA spent disaster funds housing migrants in Chicago. Bergquam has traveled to the city since at least 2019 and is affiliated with Real America's Voice News. ICE said it targets dangerous criminal aliens and did not confirm authorization for his presence.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]