Authorities in the western Chicago suburb of Broadview announced that their local police were alerted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers about potential disruptive events in the village on Saturday, following ongoing protests at an ICE detention facility.
A village representative stated that ICE officers informed the Broadview Police Department of planned “enforcement actions throughout Broadview,” including the possible use of chemical agents. This was perceived by David Ormsby as a retaliatory response to Broadview leaders’ appeals against federal authorities escalating tensions in the community.
“ICE is aiming to intimidate Broadview because we exercised our 1st Amendment rights by opposing their aggressive actions in our town. We refuse to be cowed,” Ormsby declared in a public statement.
In an emailed reply, ICE refuted the claims of threats, with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stating, “This is fabricated. Our officers simply uphold the law. Nothing more.”
Reported live from the scene, correspondent Mills Hayes observed ICE officers making arrests and using tear gas and other crowd dispersal tactics. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, responsible for overseeing security, was present.
A protester named Amanda Starr from Wisconsin stated that she returned to the Broadview ICE detention center, despite being injured by a rubber bullet the previous day.
“If they’re treating protesters like that, out in the open, how are they treating people in that building?” she said.
The suburban ICE facility has been the backdrop for tense encounters between federal authorities and protesters who oppose the Trump administration’s mass deportations of undocumented individuals. The White House launched “Operation Midway Blitz” earlier this month in Chicago, a sanctuary city at odds with Trump policies. Demonstrators are trying to impede operations at the Broadview facility.
Despite the clashes, ICE officials said 40 migrants were arrested as part of the operation Saturday.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, blamed the Trump administration for setting the stage for trouble.
“Donald Trump is using federal agents to stoke fear and violate constitutional rights all with the aims of expanding his control and sending military troops to our cities. It’s unlawful and un-American. We must all stand up and speak out against fanning the flames of violence,” he said.
