BROADVIEW, Ill. (MetaWorld.Media) — Federal agents fired pepper balls and tear gas at protesters near an immigration enforcement building in Broadview, Illinois, escalating tensions amid ongoing protests focused on immigration policies.
The confrontation unfolded over several hours as activists sought to block vehicle access to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building. The situational escalation was part of a more significant backlash against recent increases in federal immigration actions.
Protesters reported being hit by pepper balls and tear gas canisters as they yelled supportive messages and tied notes of solidarity on the fence outside the facility. Despite standing far from the vehicle access, the crowd was met with aggressive measures from the agents.
“They caught us so incredibly off guard,” lamented 27-year-old Bushra Amiwala, an elected official who suffered injury from the agents' response. “We literally were just tying notes on the wall.”
Amiwala characterized the agents’ actions as fully unprovoked, echoing sentiments expressed by other community members who gathered in peace to voice their concerns over immigration enforcement.
The skirmish draws attention to a newly installed fence, deemed “illegally built” by village officials for causing security worries. While the demonstration turned chaotic, the fate of those arrested last week remains unclear, with federal authorities labeling participants as rioters.
