As federal agents ramp up an immigration crackdown in the Chicago area, an increasing number of elected officials in the Democratic stronghold are getting caught in the crosshairs.

Members of Chicago’s City Council and their staff members, state legislators and congressional candidates have been threatened, handcuffed and detained in recent days.

The Trump administration has said anyone who interferes or threatens federal officers will face consequences.

But the elected leaders in Illinois say it is an alarming escalation of tactics in U.S. cities that’s meant to spark fear and intimidation. 

Illinois state Rep. Hoan Huynh was going door-to-door informing businesses of ramped up immigration enforcement on Chicago’s North Side when the Democratic lawmaker got an activist notification of federal agents nearby.

He followed agents’ vehicles and then honked to warn others when he was pulled over. Masked federal officers pointed a gun at him and a staffer, attempted to break his car window and took photos of their faces, before issuing a warning, he recounted.