Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson joined village police and fire officials at a news conference on Tuesday, denouncing displays of force at the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility in the western suburb.
The facility, being used by the Trump administration for the immigration campaign known as “Operation Midway Blitz,” has frequently been the site of escalating clashes between protesters and armed guards, with reports of agents using tear gas, pepper spray and other chemical agents.
On Saturday afternoon, Attorney General Pam Bondi warned of plans to send additional federal agents to ICE facilities around the country. Days later, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said 100 military personnel would be sent to Illinois at the direction of the Department of Homeland Security.
On Tuesday, Thompson demanded DHS remove fencing that went up surrounding the facility on Sept. 23. She and acting Fire Chief Matt Martin said they did not receive a proper permit for the fence and said it impedes their ability to respond to surrounding businesses on their block.
Thompson also called ICE’s response to protesters extreme and relentless.
‘This extreme response is not only violating the rights of protesters but is actively endangering nearby Broadview residents and hampering the essential work of the village’s first responders,’ she said.
In the past few weeks, NBC 5 reporters have witnessed tensions escalate between ICE agents and protesters at the facility. Some protesters have been thrown to the ground and arrested; others were hit with pepper balls and tear gas. DHS told NBC Chicago protesters have lit fireworks and trespassed, adding they have been violent toward ICE agents.
Meanwhile, Broadview police launched three criminal investigations at the ICE facility, including two alleged hit-and-run cases and a criminal damage to property incident.
”As a local law enforcement official, I have to have faith that federal law enforcement partners will cooperate with us in this investigation,” said Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills. ”We will do our best, we will leave no stone unturned. We will continue to visit that facility, requesting to speak to people.”
NBC 5 reached out to DHS and received a statement from an ICE spokesperson, saying in part the ”Broadview Processing Center continues to face violence and unlawful activity by rioters. The relentless actions of these individuals — and their attempts to obstruct the enforcement of federal law — are unacceptable.”
The statement goes on to say, “We have repeatedly requested assistance from state and local law enforcement, including your own police department, to disperse these unlawful assemblies. Instead, local inaction has enabled agitators to escalate violence and placed federal officers, first responders, and Broadview residents in harm’s way.”
Broadview Police said they have responded to the facility and alleged that officers have been verbally insulted and exposed to chemicals.
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