More protests are anticipated to occur at the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement site on Saturday following a tense standoff between demonstrators and federal agents on Friday night.
Demonstrators have been protesting against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement blitz happening across Chicago.
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On Friday, officers employed chemical substances several times to break up the gatherings, and federal officials now report that one of the arrested individuals was carrying a firearm.
Elias Cepeda, a volunteer for Pilsen Defense and Access, was captured on video on Instagram shortly before his arrest. The 41-year-old has been participating in protests at the facility for weeks.
His mother claims that her son is a legal Concealed-Carry License holder and is calling for his release. Meanwhile, other protesters have shared their perspectives on his arrest.
The Department of Homeland Security addressed the arrest of Cepeda and the discovery of his weapon, noting in a message to X: “This is occurring just days after the appalling terrorist attack on an ICE facility in Dallas.”
Demonstrators say the other man arrested on Friday is a military veteran.
Saturday’s protest is not expected to start until later in the afternoon.
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