Edith Hejberg
Federal agents used teargas and pepper balls to disperse around 100 demonstrators gathered outside an ICE building in Chicago early Friday morning.
The protest aimed to block government SUVs from entering and exiting the facility, which has been central to the immigration crackdown known as Operation Midway Blitz.
Arrests and Tensions as Protest Escalates
At least three protesters were arrested during the confrontation. Homeland Security agents in riot gear fired pepper balls from rooftops and launched multiple teargas canisters into the crowd.
One agent was spotted holding what appeared to be an unholstered firearm. The ICE building was heavily fortified with razor wire and boarded-up windows.
Congressional Candidates Among Protesters
Two Democratic congressional candidates, Kat Abughazaleh and Bushra Amiwala, both running in Illinois’s ninth district, were present. Abughazaleh, who was shoved to the ground earlier in the morning, later described the government response as a “violent abuse of power.”
DHS Responds with Sharp Rebuke
The Department of Homeland Security reposted video footage of the confrontation on X (formerly Twitter), stating that “individuals and groups impeding ICE operations are siding with vicious cartels, human traffickers, and violent criminals.”
Lieutenant Governor Condemns Federal Response
Juliana Stratton, Illinois’s lieutenant governor and a leading U.S. Senate candidate, also joined the protest before police action began.
In a statement, she said, “Protesters showed up with signs and cellphones. DHS responded with tear gas and pavement slams. This is about control, not safety.”
Violence Called ‘Unjustified’ by Amiwala
Bushra Amiwala, who remained at the scene when teargas was fired, condemned the agents’ actions.
“There was no justification for using such violence against peaceful demonstrators,” she said. “What happened in Broadview today is an affront to our democracy.”
Protesters Invoke Name of Shooting Victim
Crowds chanted the name of Silverio Villegas González, a 38-year-old father killed by an ICE officer during a traffic stop a week prior.
His death has become a rallying cry for activists pushing back against what they call militarized immigration enforcement.
More Clashes, More Arrests
Earlier in the morning, agents tackled and arrested a protester after he attempted to move a teargas canister that had fallen from an officer’s belt.
Later, another woman was forcibly detained in front of journalists. Protesters also slashed the tire of a vehicle attempting to enter the facility.
Operation Midway Blitz: No End in Sight
The ICE facility in question is central to a federal operation that has led to nearly 550 arrests in Chicago.
According to DHS, the crackdown will continue indefinitely. Marcos Charles, acting head of ICE enforcement, told AP: “We’re going to be conducting this operation until we feel that we’ve been successful.”
Chicago Joins Other Targeted Cities
Though the National Guard has not been deployed in Chicago, as it has been in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, immigration raids have spiked across the city.
The surge comes amid broader Trump administration efforts to pressure Democratic-led cities on immigration policy.
This article is made and published by Edith Hejberg, which may have used AI in the preparation
