DHS faults Illinois governor for not assisting in Broadview anti-ICE protest

The Department of Homeland Security on Monday criticized Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker for not coordinating with federal authorities during a chaotic anti-ICE protest in Broadview, a Chicago suburb, that disrupted an ongoing processing operation and prompted the use of tear gas and other non-lethal measures.

DHS said police in what it described as a sanctuary jurisdiction refused to answer multiple calls for assistance, as protesters blocked entry and exit to the Broadview Processing Center and targeted federal personnel. The agency said rioters and sanctuary politicians obstructed law enforcement, threw tear gas cans, rocks, bottles, and fireworks, slashed tires, blocked the entrance of the building, trespassed on private property, and assaulted officers. DHS also noted that 16 rioters have been arrested so far in connection with the disruption. Matt Hill, a spokesman for Pritzker, told Fox News Digital that it’s “completely false to suggest the state or local municipalities have been obstructing federal officials.”

“The state has not received multiple calls for assistance from the federal government and would remind them of the importance of coordinating with local law enforcement to protect public safety,” Hill said. He added, “Governor Pritzker has been clear that violence is unacceptable and everyone needs to follow the law, which includes federal agents respecting constitutional rights to peaceful protest.” He also criticized coverage, saying, “The media needs to use extreme caution before reporting what the Trump administration is saying given their record of lies, lack of transparency, and failure to coordinate with the state and local law enforcement.”

DHS said the protest disrupted an operation targeting “some of the worst of the worst—including criminals convicted of drug trafficking, domestic abuse, drinking and driving, and assault,” who were being processed at the Broadview facility. Among those described by the agency as being processed were Andrés Ventura-Uvaldo, a Mexican national previously arrested for felony DUI and domestic violence; Alberto Algeria Barron, also a Mexican national who was removed in 2014 and later convicted for domestic battery twice; Erwin Jose Roa-Mustafa, a Dominican national who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and drug distribution-related charges; Ibis Alberto Testa Nunez, a Mexican national with prior DEA-listed cocaine offenses; Salvador Alcantar-Alcantar, a Mexican national with prior DUI, trespassing, and assault arrests; and Carlos Eduardo Chavez-Cardenas, a Bolivian national with a prior DUI and drug possession convictions. “These heinous criminals, including domestic abusers, drug traffickers, violent offenders, and drunk drivers are some of the illegal aliens being held in the ICE Broadview Processing Center,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. She added, “These rioters in Illinois are fighting to keep rapists, murderers, and other violent criminals loose on Illinois streets.”

The unfolding incident comes as DHS says ICE officers face a more than 1,000 percent increase in assaults as they conduct operations across Illinois, underscoring the tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local policies that limit cooperation with federal authorities. Illinois lawmakers and federal officials have clashed in recent years over sanctuary policies, with advocates arguing the measures protect immigrant communities and critics contending they hamper law enforcement.

In Broadview, the disturbance occurred during a federally run processing operation that DHS said was designed to remove dangerous offenders from the streets. The agency highlighted the ongoing danger faced by agents and the continuing strain on local resources as protests and counterprotests unfold in Illinois and other states with sanctuary laws. While officials from Illinois’ state and local governments have repeatedly asserted commitments to public safety, the Broadview incident illustrates how federal and local authorities’ approaches can diverge in high-tension moments.

As investigations continue, lawmakers in Washington and state capitals are likely to revisit the balance between enforcing federal immigration laws and safeguarding the rights of peaceful protesters, particularly in places where sanctuary policies limit local cooperation. The Broadview episode leaves open questions about how future incidents will be managed and whether improved coordination between federal and state authorities can prevent or quell similar disruptions without compromising constitutional rights.