The Brief
- Protesters gathered again Friday outside the Broadview ICE facility, continuing weekly demonstrations that have led to arrests and clashes with law enforcement.
- Activists are challenging the village’s limits on protest hours and locations, arguing the rules violate their free speech.
- The suburban facility has become a focal point in the national immigration debate as tensions rise between demonstrators, state police, and federal agents.
BROADVIEW, Ill. – ICE protesters gathered again Friday outside the processing facility in Broadview, continuing a series of weekly demonstrations that have sometimes resulted in clashes between federal agents and demonstrators.
Last Friday, 15 people were arrested by Illinois State Police during the protest, with one of them charged with obstructing/resisting police.
Broadview ICE protests
The latest protest follows a packed Broadview Village Board meeting Monday, where residents and activists challenged Mayor Katrina Thompson’s executive orders limiting protests to between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and restricting access to areas near the facility.
Demonstrators argue the rules infringe on their free speech and prevent them from maintaining a visible presence as federal immigration operations continue.
“I witnessed agents hitting people on the ground who were doing nothing,” protester Amanda Tovar told officials, describing a viral incident in which Rev. David Black was struck in the head by pepper balls fired by federal agents. …