Chicago-area anti-ICE protesters face tear gas and pepper balls as federal agents move in
Protests outside an ICE processing center in Broadview, Illinois, escalate as federal officers deploy pepper balls and tear gas amid a broader immigration-enforcement push.
Federal law enforcement agents deployed pepper balls and tear gas Friday during a confrontation with anti-ICE protesters outside a Chicago-area ICE processing center in Broadview, Ill., authorities said. The standoff came two days after a gunman opened fire at an ICE facility in Dallas, killing one detainee and injuring two others before taking his own life, authorities said. Roughly 50 protesters were observed midday Friday outside the Broadview center, which serves as a processing hub for detainees in the region. An ICE spokesperson said two protesters were arrested, including one who was carrying a firearm.
Video from the scene showed federal officers attempting to clear protesters from the area as demonstrators sought to block vehicles from leaving the facility.
Last week, clashes at the site led to 16 arrests, DHS said. The agency described those involved as rioters and sanctuary-policy opponents who obstructed law enforcement, threw tear gas cans, rocks, bottles and fireworks, slashed tires, blocked entrances, trespassed on private property and assaulted officers.
The site is the main processing center for the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Midway Blitz, an effort to move detainees and tighten enforcement in the Chicago area. In a statement, DHS criticized Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker for not taking a more proactive stance, arguing that sanctuary policies in the state complicate attempts to remove or relocate detainees.
Protests in Illinois come as immigration enforcement remains a highly polarized issue in U.S. politics. Supporters of stronger enforcement argue sanctuary policies hamper public safety and complicate federal operations, while advocates for immigrant rights say sanctuary policies protect families and communities from aggressive enforcement tactics.
Officials said the investigation into the Dallas shooting is ongoing, and there is no evidence at this time that the Chicago demonstration is connected to the Dallas incident. The FBI and local authorities in Dallas have not provided additional public updates since the initial briefing.
With no immediate comment Friday from Gov. Pritzker, authorities warned that the situation remained tense and that law enforcement would continue to monitor developments as the Midway Blitz operation proceeds.
