Federal Agents Deploy Chemical Agents, Arrest Protesters in Broadview ICE Facility Clashes

Tensions escalated dramatically on Friday outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, as federal agents reportedly deployed chemical agents, including tear gas and pepper balls, against protesters. The day-long confrontations resulted in multiple arrests and saw a congressional candidate shoved to the ground amidst demonstrations against President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation policies.

Dozens gathered at the facility, with protests beginning early Friday morning and resuming in the evening. Eyewitness accounts and social media videos circulated, showing ICE agents in military fatigues guarding the facility, with some positioned on the rooftop. A notable incident involved Kat Abughazaleh, a Democratic primary candidate for the 9th District congressional seat, who reported being thrown to the ground twice by agents. Other political figures, including State Sen. Graciela Guzmán and fellow congressional candidates Daniel Biss and Bushra Amiwala, were also present and exposed to chemical agents.

Protesters voiced deep concerns for individuals detained inside the facility, including family members like Rosalio Pelayo Salgago, whose daughters were among the demonstrators. Tania Ramos shared a distressing account of her father, a Guatemalan immigrant with health issues and no criminal record, being lured into an alleged ICE ‘trap’ and subsequently detained.

While ICE did not immediately respond to specific inquiries regarding the incidents or the status of arrested protesters, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a social media statement asserting that those impeding ICE operations were siding with ‘violent criminals.’ Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson, however, criticized congressional candidate Daniel Biss, accusing his presence of fueling agitation and potentially endangering the community. The protests concluded late Friday night with tear gas still lingering in the air, underscoring the intense and unresolved nature of the confrontations.

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