The Department of Homeland Security has addressed rumors on the future of a suburban immigration facility closing following days of protests that have escalated to numerous clashes between demonstrators and guards.
According authorities there are currently no plans to temporarily close the facility in suburban Broadview.
“Any allegations that ICE Broadview Processing Center is temporarily closing are FALSE,” Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at DHS, said in a statement.
The department accused demonstrators of throwing tear gas cans, rocks, bottles and fireworks at law enforcement, while also slashing car tires and blocking entrances to the building. Protestors were often seen trying to block vehicles or federal agents entering or exiting the facility, with federal agents then firing pepper balls at the crowd of protestors.
The National Lawyers Guild alleged agents appeared to “fire projectiles directly at individuals, including at their heads” and said at least two people were taken to nearby hospitals.
Protesters were often seen trying to block vehicles or federal agents entering or exiting the facility, with federal agents then firing pepper balls at the crowd of protestors. Videos and photos captured numerous scuffles between protesters and ICE guards outside the facility, with tear gas and pepper balls flying through the air.
DHS accused the state of refusing to “answer multiple calls for assistance,” blaming its sanctuary city policies, but in his own statement Gov. J.B. Pritzker denied receiving any calls for help.
“It’s completely false to suggest the state or local municipalities have been obstructing federal officials. The state has not received multiple calls for assistance from the federal government and would remind them the importance of coordinating with local law enforcement to protect public safety,” Pritzker said in a statement. “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.”
He added that the village of Broadview and Cook County have also not requested state help.
According to DHS, at least 16 protesters have been arrested at the facility so far. The National Lawyers Guild reported at least 10 of those arrests were ultimately released.
“Secretary Noem’s message to rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” McLaughlin’s statement read.
“These egregious acts of violence against people exercising their rights to free speech exemplify this administration’s flagrant assault on the First Amendment,” Brad Thomson, a volunteer attorney with NLG Chicago said in a statement. “The violent use of government power to suppress dissent embodies the authoritarian and xenophobic agenda being pursued by federal authorities.”
The heightened demonstrations come as officials conduct what they’ve called “Operation Midway Blitz” in the Chicago area. In just two weeks, more than 550 undocumented immigrants have been detained by ICE, the agency told NBC 5 Investigates.
The Broadview facility serves as a processing center for many of those arrested.
Though protests have taken place every Friday for weeks, the clashes on Sept. 19 have been the most tense so far.
That evening, clashes escalated as someone in the crowd launched fireworks outside the heavily armed ICE compound. Federal agents responded to the fireworks with tear gas and dozens of rounds of pepper ball shots.
Activists and some Illinois democrats running for office were seen gagging and struggling to breathe as tear gas filled the air. Some used milk and water to clear their eyes.
Kat Abughazaleh, who is running for Congress in Illinois’ Ninth District, was thrown to the ground by federal agents at the protest.
“What’s really important to mention here, I’m gonna have a bruise on my side, but that doesn’t hold a candle to the people trapped in the facility are dealing with,” Abughazaleh said.
A photo captured by NBC Chicago photographer George Mycyk Friday morning showed a bottle of what appeared to have been sprayed at protestors, marked with the words “riot control.”
“We just got sprayed with — I don’t know if it was tear gas, or pepper spray — I know it stung my eyes,” NBC Chicago reporter Jenn Schanz, who was at the scene, said. “It was very hard to breathe.”
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