The removal of a barricade at the Broadview U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center has now provided an unobstructed view of the facility. This development follows the dismantling of the fence that had previously surrounded the center.
On Tuesday evening, a flatbed truck laden with fencing materials was granted access to the site. Shortly thereafter, workers commenced the process of taking down the barrier.
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The fence had originally been erected due to numerous violent confrontations between federal agents and demonstrators. These clashes were fueled by heightened immigration enforcement efforts in the Chicago region.
By Wednesday, a small group of protesters had gathered outside the facility. Among them was Susan Rhode, who took a moment to pray at the location.
“I’m relieved it’s been removed,” expressed Rhode, a resident of Forest Park. “The situation was perilous. The intensity and threats from the crowd reflect the fear that many are experiencing.”
In legal proceedings, the village of Broadview contended that the fencing posed a significant safety risk, particularly for emergency responders.
Wednesday the Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson called the fence removal a win. In a statement she said:
“The law, including municipal law, applies even to the federal government. This is a victory for the rule of law in a country that is still a democracy. And it is a victory for Broadview residents and businesses who depend on their municipal government to assure public safety.”
The Department of Homeland security argued that the fence was meant for protection.
In a statement in part, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin says, “This new ruling seeks to stop us from protecting our ICE Broadview facility, the detainees being processed in it, and our law enforcement officers…DHS extended fencing at the Broadview Processing Center after rioters and sanctuary politicians obstructed law enforcement, threw tear gas cans, rocks, bottles, and fireworks, slashed tires of cars, blocked the entrance of the building, and trespassed on private property.”
“We have been hounding them for weeks now about this fence, and they finally took it down,” protester Levi Rolles said. “It is a step in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go.”
There are still designated protest zones along with protest hours in Broadview.
State police and sheriff deputies also remain outside the facility.
A 57-year-old woman was charged with disorderly conduct outside the facility Tuesday, police said.
