Violent Clashes Erupt at Broadview ICE Facility: Congressional Candidate Shoved, Tear Gas Deployed

Tensions reached a boiling point Friday at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, as protesters clashed violently with federal agents. The confrontations, which included an ICE officer shoving a congressional candidate to the ground, agents firing tear gas and pepper balls into crowds, and multiple arrests, unfolded over hours in response to intensifying federal immigration operations.

Democratic primary candidate Kat Abughazaleh, running for the 9th District congressional seat, reported being thrown to the ground twice by ICE agents. Videos circulating on social media corroborate one such incident, showing an agent in full camouflage pushing her. Abughazaleh, along with other protesters, including elected officials like State Sen. Graciela Guzmán and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, were exposed to tear gas and pepper balls during the demonstrations.

The protests, which began early Friday morning and resumed in the evening, drew dozens to the facility. At least six individuals were arrested after clashing with officers, with protesters expressing concerns over the whereabouts and well-being of those detained. Families of detainees also gathered, some like Tania Ramos, whose father was allegedly ensnared in an ICE ‘trap,’ desperately seeking information and medical assurance for their loved ones.

In response to the unrest, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a social media statement asserting that those impeding ICE operations were siding with ‘violent criminals.’ Meanwhile, Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson criticized congressional candidate Daniel Biss, accusing him of provoking the tense situation with his presence and campaign activities.

As Friday night concluded, tear gas lingered in the air, and federal officers on the facility’s rooftop remained unresponsive to State Sen. Guzmán’s pleas for dialogue regarding the detained protesters, underscoring the escalating standoff between federal authorities and immigration activists in Chicago.

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