BROADVIEW, Ill. (AP) — Federal agents detained multiple people Friday near an immigration facility outside Chicago that has frequently been targeted by protesters during President Donald Trump’s administration’s surge of immigration enforcement this fall.
A crowd grew over several hours, some riled by newly installed barricades to separate them from law enforcement officers stationed outside the ICE processing facility in Broadview, about 12 miles west of Chicago.
Some protesters have aimed to block vehicles from going in or out of the area in recent weeks, part of a growing pushback to the surge of immigration enforcement that began in early September. Federal agents have repeatedly fired tear gas, pepper balls, and other projectiles toward crowds, and at least five people have faced federal charges after being arrested in those clashes.
On Friday, local law enforcement stepped up their presence, closing several streets around the facility and putting Illinois State Police officers wearing riot helmets and holding batons on patrol. The state police set up concrete barriers to segregate protesters and designate spaces to demonstrate.
It was unclear how many people were detained Friday, but one man was seen struggling with agents after he appeared to break through a line into the roadway.
Mostly reporters and a handful of protesters stood within the designated protest zone as helicopters hovered overhead. “Every week, ICE escalates its violence against us,” said Demi Palecek, a military veteran and congressional candidate. “With this level of escalation, it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed.”
Several demonstrators expressed frustration over the protest zone, claiming it violated their First Amendment rights. Others were angered by local and state officers standing alongside federal agents. Most ignored the designated area to protest on the other side of the facility, where police held them back.
Jonny Bishop, a 28-year-old former teacher, stated that the attempt to designate a free speech zone infringes on rights. “As the day progressed, we were pushed back, not just by ICE but also by the Broadview Police Department,” he said. “We’ve done these things peacefully... But our rights are being violated.”
Bishop, of a Mexican immigrant family, recounted being hit by tear gas at previous protests. He noted a clear difference in the response this time with more local, county, and state law enforcement coordinating with federal agents. “ICE acts with impunity,” he said, reflecting a growing concern among protesters about law enforcement tactics at the facility.
A crowd grew over several hours, some riled by newly installed barricades to separate them from law enforcement officers stationed outside the ICE processing facility in Broadview, about 12 miles west of Chicago.
Some protesters have aimed to block vehicles from going in or out of the area in recent weeks, part of a growing pushback to the surge of immigration enforcement that began in early September. Federal agents have repeatedly fired tear gas, pepper balls, and other projectiles toward crowds, and at least five people have faced federal charges after being arrested in those clashes.
On Friday, local law enforcement stepped up their presence, closing several streets around the facility and putting Illinois State Police officers wearing riot helmets and holding batons on patrol. The state police set up concrete barriers to segregate protesters and designate spaces to demonstrate.
It was unclear how many people were detained Friday, but one man was seen struggling with agents after he appeared to break through a line into the roadway.
Mostly reporters and a handful of protesters stood within the designated protest zone as helicopters hovered overhead. “Every week, ICE escalates its violence against us,” said Demi Palecek, a military veteran and congressional candidate. “With this level of escalation, it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed.”
Several demonstrators expressed frustration over the protest zone, claiming it violated their First Amendment rights. Others were angered by local and state officers standing alongside federal agents. Most ignored the designated area to protest on the other side of the facility, where police held them back.
Jonny Bishop, a 28-year-old former teacher, stated that the attempt to designate a free speech zone infringes on rights. “As the day progressed, we were pushed back, not just by ICE but also by the Broadview Police Department,” he said. “We’ve done these things peacefully... But our rights are being violated.”
Bishop, of a Mexican immigrant family, recounted being hit by tear gas at previous protests. He noted a clear difference in the response this time with more local, county, and state law enforcement coordinating with federal agents. “ICE acts with impunity,” he said, reflecting a growing concern among protesters about law enforcement tactics at the facility.
