Anti-ICE agitators gathered outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Friday morning, chanting offensive slogans and confronting federal agents. Approximately 100 demonstrators assembled to disrupt ICE operations, with tensions escalating around 7:30 a.m. when agents approached a road blocked by the group.
The agitators obstructed and attacked ICE vehicles as they entered and exited the facility. Federal agents in riot gear responded by firing pepper balls and tear gas to disperse the crowd, forcing the protesters to retreat. Agents also targeted demonstrators at another entrance, where similar protests have occurred recently. Several rioters were arrested on-site, with one individual found in possession of a firearm.
The incident followed a prior attack in Dallas, Texas, where an anti-ICE agitator shot at an ICE vehicle, killing a detainee and injuring two others. ICE’s “Operation Midway Blitz” has led to over 200 arrests targeting individuals with criminal records in the Chicago area. Anti-ICE activists have protested the facility every Friday since the operation began, blocking vehicles, throwing rocks, setting off fireworks, and slashing tires.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced plans to deploy Department of Justice (DOJ) agents to ICE facilities, vowing to arrest those involved in federal crimes. She emphasized a crackdown on “lawlessness,” directing federal agencies to intensify efforts against illegal immigration.
The protest occurred amid broader tensions over ICE enforcement, with demonstrators continuing their clashes despite increased security measures.
