Federal agents deployed tear gas and pepper balls Friday to disperse an unruly mob of anti-ICE protesters — including a Democratic mayor — attempting to blockade an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility outside Chicago.
More than 100 protesters surrounded the ICE Broadview Processing Center as they “assaulted law enforcement, threw tear gas cans, slashed tires of cars, blocked the entrance of the building, and trespassed on private property,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement.
Federal law enforcement agents made three arrests related to the protest, according to DHS.
Agents tossed several canisters of tear gas and fired less-lethal pepper or sting balls into the crowd as protesters attempted to stand in the way of ICE vehicles leaving the facility, a video posted on social media showed.
The video shows authorities quickly apprehending one protester — donning a helmet, gas mask and Captain America shield — who hurled a canister of tear gas back at agents during the skirmish.
DHS described the protest as an “organized effort to obstruct ICE law enforcement,” and said throughout the day vans were observed picking up and dropping off protesters.
Daniel Biss, the Democratic mayor of Evanston, Ill., was among those taking part in the demonstration.
“We. Will. Not. Be. Intimidated,” Biss wrote on X.
The mayor also described the chaotic scene outside the facility as “terrifying” and attempt by the Trump administration to “intimidate” protesters. --->READ MORE HERE
At least three people were arrested after federal immigration officers used tear gas and pepper balls in response to anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters demonstrating in front of the ICE processing center just outside of Chicago on Friday morning.
An ICE spokesperson told NewsNation that federal law enforcement officers arrested protesters, who officials say assaulted federal officers and slashed the tire of federal vehicles while also blocking the path of vehicles attempting to leave the processing center in suburban Broadview.
The center is being used as the main processing hub for undocumented immigrants who are detained by federal immigration officers and agents during “Operation Midway Blitz.” Organizers said they planned to hold weekly demonstrations at the processing center, which is separate from an ICE detention center.
Protesters chanted, “Save your soul, quit your job” at federal officers, who are part of the large-scale, multiagency operation that began last week. In response, Department of Homeland Security officers, speaking over a loudspeaker, ordered protesters to disperse, telling them they were violating federal law by obstructing officers from doing their job.
ICE officials said that more than 100 protesters were involved in the clash with federal officers, which led to multiple arrests. NewsNation estimated that the number of demonstrators was between 75 and 100 as the number of those involved diminished throughout the day.
One protester was taken inside the processing center by federal officers after he picked up a tear gas canister that was dropped by an officer and tossed it in the direction of where media members were standing. The man remained in custody inside the facility as of mid-Friday morning despite chants by protesters for him to be released.
Protesters on Friday also slashed a tire of one of the vehicles that DHS is using to move detained migrants from the facility. Among the federal officials who arrived on scene was Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol commander-at-large, who oversaw the large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Los Angeles and who has been assigned to run the ongoing Chicago effort. --->READ MORE HERE
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