Protesters gathered in Broadview, Illinois, on Friday to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from entering and leaving a processing center. This demonstration was part of a response to the Trump administration’s recent “Operation Midway Blitz,” which aims to target illegal immigrants with criminal records.
In a tense scene, protesters surrounded an ICE vehicle, shouting insults at the agents and calling them derogatory names. Some demonstrators even threw teddy bears at the car while banging on its hood. Video footage shared on social media captured the moment, showing the heated atmosphere as federal agents in tactical gear deployed pepper balls to disperse the crowd. There were reports that some protesters attempted to throw tear gas at the agents.
This operation began earlier in the month in Chicago and the surrounding areas, leading to the arrest of hundreds of undocumented immigrants, including individuals with serious criminal histories such as gang members and sex offenders, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The situation escalated recently after previous violent incidents at the Broadview facility. Just a week before the protest, rioters had physically assaulted ICE officers, thrown tear gas canisters at them, and attempted to breach the building. In response to the violence, a fence was erected around the facility to enhance security.
The protests come amid a significant rise in assaults against ICE personnel, reportedly increasing by 1,000%. The unrest follows a tragic shooting incident at an ICE facility in Dallas, where a gunman killed one detainee and injured two others before taking his own life. Additionally, there have been other alarming incidents, including a bomb threat at another ICE location in Texas.
In light of these events, President Trump criticized the rhetoric against law enforcement from some Democratic leaders. He called the attacks on ICE agents “despicable” and urged Democrats to stop their negative portrayal of law enforcement. Trump emphasized the need to support ICE in their mission to remove serious criminals from the country and condemned the violence directed at them.
As tensions continue to rise around immigration enforcement, both supporters and opponents of ICE are voicing their opinions, leading to ongoing confrontations like the one witnessed in Broadview.
