BROADVIEW, Ill. — Protesters attempted to obstruct traffic on Friday outside a federal immigration enforcement building in suburban Chicago, resulting in a confrontation with authorities who utilized a chemical agent to disperse the crowd.
Dozens of activists, carrying American flags and banners reading Hands off Chicago, gathered at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building located approximately 12 miles west of Chicago.
According to footage from local news outlets, several protesters were taken into custody as white clouds from the chemical agents disrupted the demonstration, allowing vehicles to enter and exit the facility unhindered.
City Council member Andre Vasquez, present at the protest, described the agent used as a mix of tear gas and a little pepper spray.
This protest comes on the heels of a new ICE operation launched this month, which reportedly targets traffic stops in immigrant and Latino neighborhoods across the Chicago suburbs.
They want us to be afraid,” stated Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton at the scene, criticizing the Trump administration's tactics. We’re not going to let that happen.
The Broadview site serves as a temporary holding facility for immigrants before their detention or deportation, with its windows covered by boards.
Recent protests have seen groups converge regularly on the site, including vigils held by Catholic nuns praying for detained individuals.
Local leaders and activists have vowed to respond defiantly to federal operations that they believe unfairly target their communities, especially in response to an incident involving the death of a man after an encounter with immigration officers.
The authorities indicated that they were pursuing an individual with a prior record for reckless driving who had allegedly entered the country illegally and had attempted to evade arrest, allegedly dragging an officer with his vehicle.
