BROADVIEW, Ill. (WGN) — With signs in hand and chants echoing through the streets, immigrant rights groups and supporters rallied Sunday to shut down the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, which they claim functions in the shadows of injustice.
The facility has traditionally been used to process detainees before transfer, with most held for no more than a day.
However, protestors say this practice has changed under President Donald Trump, with people now being held for extended periods in inhumane conditions.
They are urging the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and Attorney General to investigate these allegations.
“People are going without beds, with cold food, no showers for three days on average and that’s completely unacceptable,” Omar Flores, the Immigrants’ Rights Working Committee chair, said.
The protest comes amid escalating fears following Trump’s recent threats to deploy federal forces to Chicago for immigration enforcement.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Trump administration will soon expand immigration operations in Chicago, confirming plans for a stepped-up presence of federal agents in the city.
Last week, the DHS requested limited logistical support from officials at Naval Station Great Lakes to support the agency’s anticipated operations. The military installation is about 35 miles north of Chicago.
Immigrant communities and advocates see the move as an intensification of tactics they call aggressive and unjust.
“They might be coming for people who have misdemeanor from 15 years ago, but they will come after you next,” Louise Carhart, an immigration attorney, said.
At the same time, families traded protest signs for rosaries and crosses as they marched from Waukegan to the navy base, taking a peaceful stand against the militarization of immigration enforcement.
They say they are demanding an end to policies driven by fear, not compassion.
“It’s just a waste of taxpayer dollars and time against its own people,” Gigi Javack said.
On Saturday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order aimed at preventing the Chicago Police Department from being federalized for immigration enforcement purposes.
Advocates say that while the future may feel uncertain and frightening, they remain confident in Illinois as they believe the state has some of the strongest immigrant protection laws in the country.
“Chicago and Illinois are leaders in this fight. We need to show them this,” Carhart said.
Andrea Medina
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