New accusations have surfaced about rising tensions between ICE agents at the Broadview, Illinois immigration processing center and the local police department.
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Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills informed the ABC7 I-Team that he faced verbal abuse from an ICE agent during a protest held at the facility earlier this month.
“Throughout my lengthy career, I’ve never encountered such behavior,” Mills remarked. “I was genuinely taken aback by the way a fellow law enforcement officer interacted with me.”
Mills reported that this incident coincides with the fact that 75% of his police force is now dedicated to managing crowds outside the ICE facility in this city in the western suburbs.
“As the head of my department,” Mills stated, “I recognize that my officers are observing me for direction and leadership. It’s crucial for me to remain composed and avoid engaging in unprofessional conduct.”
RELATED | Smoke, pepper bullets deployed on protesters in clashes Friday outside Broadview ICE facility
Mills recounted that on September 12, during a protest that turned violent, he encountered an ICE agent who hurled multiple profanities at him, calling him a coward and accusing him of shirking his responsibilities.
Mills also told the I-Team about an incident earlier in the week where a pedestrian was hit by a truck near the ICE facility.
“Allegedly an ICE agent struck someone and continued on into their location, and during that, while trying to gather information, there was pepper spray release with my officers right there,” Mills said. “They felt the effects of that pepper spray it altered their vision. They were coughing I was on the phone with them and they had to leave the area so they can decontaminate themselves.”
Now, Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson has issued a blistering letter to ICE excoriating their actions, saying in part, “Broadview police officers are routinely being exposed to ICE agents’ tear gas volleys, forcing them out of action until they recover. Broadview firefighters and ambulance personnel are being exposed. Nearby residents are being exposed…” and, “Beleaguered Broadview residents are begging for relief from your center’s siege of our neighborhood.”
Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García weighed in Friday on potential conflict between local law enforcement and ICE.
“You cannot have just come in and act as a cowboy doing whatever they want, running roughshod over people. You need to treat people with dignity and respect and that’s not happening,” Rep. García said.
The investigation into the pedestrian struck by a truck outside of the ICE facility is ongoing. ICE has not responded to the I-Team’s requests for comment.
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