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BROADVIEW, Ill. — Protesters and members of the media say US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with border agents, violated their First Amendment rights — now, they’re suing the government.
Dozens of protesters have gathered outside the suburban Broadview processing center for the past month in an effort to shut it down and oppose President Donald Trump’s policies.
There have been multiple arrests.
The lawsuit filed Monday claims members of the press, religious leaders and citizens have all been attacked while exercising their right to free speech.
“The Trump administration and its officials, including the defendants that we sued at DHS and so forth, they have brutally cracked down on the protesters — as well as the press who are there trying to report the news,” Elizabeth Wang, partner at Loevy & Loevy.
The suit says people have been met with violence while engaging in peaceful and protected activities. It states federal agents are not trained for local policing and their tactics involve indiscriminate use of force.
It also mentions some people were arrested without legal basis.
According to the co-founder of Block Club Chicago, four of their employees say they were hit with pepper balls and subjected to tear gas.
Pastor David Black of The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago claims he was shot in the head with near-lethal projectiles.
A 67-year-old union painter, also protesting outside of the facility, says gas canisters had been shot in front of him and behind. He says he inhaled gas, threw up and became disoriented.
“They were there to express their views peacefully, and in response to that the federal officials and agents there shot them, attacked them, gassed them, pushed and shoved people for no reason. Overall, declar the area a free arrest zone when it’s supposed to be a free speech area,” Wang said.
The attorneys on the case are also filing an emergency motion for a temportary restraining order. They are asking for a hearing Monday.
WGN News has reached out to The Department of Homeland Security and are waiting back on a response.
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Winnie Dortch
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