CHICAGO (NewsNation) — Federal immigration agencies are accusing Illinois law enforcement agencies of refusing to assist with „violent crowds“ that protested at a suburban Chicago Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center where federal law enforcement officers used tear gas and pepper balls against anti-ICE protesters last week.
But elected officials, including Gov. JB Pritzker, refute that characterization, saying that the feds are running a campaign of misinformation geared at pinning the blame for escalating tension between the two sides as a federal immigration crackdown known as Operation Midway Blitz continues into its third week.
The heated back-and-forth began Friday, when between 75 to 80 protesters gathered outside the boarded-up ICE processing center in Broadview, which has been used as the main processing center for the ongoing federal effort that involves hundreds of officers and agencies from multiple federal agencies.
„For the past three days, rioters and sanctuary politicians have obstructed and assaulted law enforcement,“ Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement issued to NewsNation on Monday. „These rioters have thrown tear gas cans, rocks, bottles, and fireworks at law enforcement, slashed tires of cars, blocked the entrance of the building, and trespassed on private property.
McLaughlin has said multiple times since Friday’s protests that police working in Pritzker’s „sanctuary jurisdictions“ have refused to assist with protesters.
However, two local law enforcement agencies contacted by NewsNation said that they were never contacted for assistance.
In response to NewsNation inquiries, spokespeople for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Village of Broadview Police Department called DHS’ characterization that multiple calls for assistance were refused „false.“
„The state has not received multiple calls for assistance from the federal government and would remind them of the importance of coordinating with local law enforcement to protect public safety,“ Pritzker spokesperson Matt Hill said. „Governor Pritzker has been clear that violence is unacceptable, and everyone needs to follow the law, which includes federal agents respecting constitutional rights to peaceful protest.“
A spokesperson for the Village of Broadview told NewsNation on Monday that village officials were told that items were being thrown on the railroad tracks that run near the ICE facility. He said that the matter was turned over to the railroad, which handles security.
But in terms of anything related to ongoing immigration enforcement efforts, there is nothing village police is involved with, the spokesperson said. He called DHS’ claims that Broadview Police were called „false.“ However, on Tuesday, in a statement attributed to McLauglin, the federal agency said that the local department was calked at least three times on Saturday and multiple times on Friday „with no response.“
„ICE is responsible for making their own arrests for both property violations and violence on their property,“ the spokesman, David Ormsby, said, on Monday.
DHS extends fencing around Broadview ICE facility in response to protests
DHS officials confirmed to NewsNation on Tuesday that it has extended fencing around the boarded-up facility, which is being used as the main processing center for those detained by federal officers and agents during „Operation Midway Blitz.
DHS officials say that more than 550 people have been arrested since the large-scale, multiagency federal crackdown began Sept. 8. DHS said 16 people have been arrested in connection with last week’s protests, some of whom have been charged with assaulting law enforcement.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that all of those arrested have been released. Brad Thomson, a spokesperson for the National Lawyers Guild, told the newspaper that he could not say how many of those taken into custody had been charged.
Thomson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NewsNation.
A DHS spokesperson told NewsNation on Tuesday that the fencing around the processing center in suburban Broadview was extended „after rioters and sanctuary politicians obstructed law enforcement“ on Friday, when protesters and federal officers clashed to the point where tear gas was released.
Protesters remain committed to shutting Broadview ICE processing center down
DHS extended the Broadview facility fence following a report from the Huffington Post, which claimed DHS planned to shut the facility down. The agency has said that the report is „false.“
The agency has not provided more details about the future of the facility, where McLaughlin told NewsNation that „some of the worst of the worst“ were being processed when „riots broke out“ on Friday.
Despite plans for more protests to continue in Broadview, federal officials said that their mission in Chicago will continue „until the job is done.“
„Rioters and sanctuary politicians will not deter President Trump and (DHS) Secretary (Kristi) Noem from enforcing the law,“ McLaughlin said in a statement provided to NewsNation on Tuesday.
Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol commander at-large who is overseeing the Chicago operation, agreed with McLaughlin.
„The mission will not waver in the face of protests by the lunatic fringe,“ Bovino told NewsNation on Monday.
Democratic lawmakers, candidates among the anti-ICE protesters
On Friday, multiple people, including Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old progressive running for Congress in Illinois, posted a video on social media of protesters, including herself, being thrown to the ground by officers.
Despite DHS’ characterization of the protests, Abughazaleh told NewsNation on Tuesday that those demonstrating at the facility last week were the victims of abuse by federal officers. She said that during the multiple times she has protested at the Broadview site, she has been thrown to the ground three times by federal officers.
During Friday’s clashes, Abughazaleh said that protesters were protecting themselves and did not fight back. Several public officials, including Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, said that they were hit by tear gas as part of the continued demonstrations.
Biss told NewsNation on Monday that federal vans were „driven into“ peaceful protesters during Friday’s rally and that federal officers were „physically aggressive“ toward protesters. Like Abughazaleh, Biss — who is seeking the same congressional seat as Abughazaleh — posted video of his encounter with federal officers on social media.
Yet Biss said demonstrators must continue to raise their voice, speaking out against what they are seeing despite the way they are treated by federal officers.
Abughazaleh told NewsNation that she plans to continue to do that and will not be deterred until the Broadview ICE processing center is closed. As she and others push for the facility’s closing, though, she expects the messaging sent out by federal agencies to continue.
„ICE does not care about our rights, and ICE does not care about the Constitution,“ Abughazaleh said. „ICE will continue to harm people, abduct people and violate our First Amendment rights until this facility is shut down. But if there are no consequences, they will act without impunity because why wouldn’t they?“
She added: „It’s surreal to see things I experienced in real time lied about so blatantly and aggressively.“
