BROADVIEW, Ill. (WLS) — There was an amplified presence of federal agents Saturday in Broadview after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social media that the Trump administration was directing more resources to Chicago.
It appeared that Border Patrol has taken over operations at the west suburban ICE facility, and they were quick to detain several protesters throughout the evening while firing off pepper bullets to disperse the crowds.
Demonstrators have been protesting against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement blitz happening across the Chicago area.
The developments came after the village said in a statement that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents told officials in Broadview they would launch enforcement throughout the west suburb on Saturday.
The village says ICE agents told Broadview police that there will be a “s*** show” in the area and that federal officers will deploy chemicals again.
In a statement, Broadview said this is all in retaliation to the village calling on ICE to “stop making war on our community.”
“Let’s be clear. ICE is seeking to intimidate the Village of Broadview because we dared exercise our 1st Amendment constitutional rights calling for an end to their war on Broadview. We will not be intimidated. We are Broadview strong,” the village said in a statement, in part.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement, saying, “This is made up. Our law enforcement enforces the rule of law. Period.”
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The continued protests Saturday at the Broadview ICE facility came after Friday night’s standoff between demonstrators and federal agents.
Some local organizations held a press conference in the afternoon, continuing to speak out against the operations going on there. The Revolutionary Black Panther Party is one of the organizations that spoke.
There have been contentious moments the last couple of days, including the use of pepper bullets and other crowd controlling measures from DHS agents. Many of the protesters there Saturday have been the same people showing up to the facility every day, and they say that those tactics from ICE will not deter them from continuing to protest.
Throughout the day agents chased down some protesters and detained them while also coming out to take any kind of shields or umbrellas from the crowd. Protesters believe the use of force has gone too far.
“We oppose this kind of authoritarianism that is invading our city and suburbs,” community activist Andy Thayer said. “It’s not helping anyone.”
After several escalations between protesters and federal agents over the last few weeks in Broadview, Attorney General Bondi says there will be no tolerance moving forward.
“More than 200 violent rioters were at a Chicago ICE facility chanting ‘Arrest ICE. Shoot ICE,’” Bondi said in a video posted to X. “At least one had a gun. We’ve seen this before. We saw it in Portland and the LA riots. These are not peaceful protests. These are coordinated attacks by radical extremists, and they end now.”
Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino also arrived to the Broadview facility Friday. He did not answer questions from reporters as he led operations on the ground.
Crowd-controlling measures like pepper bullets were deployed several times in an attempt to push protesters back.
Local immigration lawyer Louise Carhart was apart of the crowd. She says the federal agencies do not belong there.
“All of these agencies are funded by tax payer dollars and they’re being deputized for things they are not authorized to do,” Carhart said. “That’s a misuse of public funds, and I think protesters have every right to be out here.”
Also on the scene Saturday were a few opposition protesters, who say they stand with ICE and believe this is what Illinois needs right now.
Anti-ICE protesters in Chicago also gathered Saturday in the Loop, sending a similar message to the Trump administration. They rallied at Federal Plaza and marched a bit through downtown, with chants and signs standing up against ICE operations.
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Officers used chemical agents multiple times in an effort to disperse the crowds on Friday in Broadview, and federal authorities said of the people arrested had a gun.
Elias Cepeda, a volunteer with Pilsen Defense and Access, is seen in this video posted to Instagram right before his arrest. The 41-year-old has joined other protesters at the facility for weeks.
His mother says her son is a legal Concealed-Carry License holder and is demanding his release while other demonstrators shared their account of his arrest.
DHS commented on Cepeda’s arrest and the discovery of his firearm, writing in a post to X, in part, “This is transpiring just a few days after the horrific terrorist attack on an ICE facility in Dallas.”
Demonstrators say the other man arrested on Friday is a military veteran.
Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson has urged Broadview residents to “take all necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families in order to stay out of harm’s way.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement in response to the federal deployments in the village of Broadview:
“The State of Illinois is closely monitoring the federal deployments in the Village of Broadview. Public safety is always my top priority, and the Illinois State Police remain in close communication with the Broadview Police Department to monitor and maintain public safety.
“Whether it be in Broadview here in Illinois or in Portland, Oregon, the Trump Administration is intentionally creating chaos to threaten sending military troops to American cities and suburbs. The suggestion that chemical agents like tear gas or pepper spray could be used indiscriminately against peaceful demonstrators, or even first responders, is unacceptable and not normal.
“Illinois will always defend Americans’ right to peacefully protest and make their voices heard. We denounce any violence against the general public, members of the media, and law enforcement or first responders. Even when the Trump Administration does not follow the law, we will.
“I urge members of the public to remain calm, stay safe, and document what you see with your phones and cameras. My senior team has also asked legal organizations to support monitoring on the ground. By observing and recording peacefully, we can ensure that any violations of the law are brought to light and those responsible are held accountable.”
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