Federal Agents Use Tear Gas on Protesters Outside Chicago ICE Facility Amid Rising Tensions
A protester is treated after being pepper-sprayed outside an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Friday. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
Federal agents in riot gear deployed tear gas on demonstrators outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in suburban Chicago on Friday, as protests against the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement escalated.
The confrontation began after protesters blocked a vehicle from leaving the Broadview ICE facility, according to NBC News, citing local affiliate NBC Chicago. On-scene media reported that the tear gas caused breathing difficulties and forced crowds to disperse.
Bushra Amiwala, a Democratic congressional candidate who attended the protest, described the scene as “chaos,” criticizing the agents’ response as unjustified violence against peaceful demonstrators. Another Democratic candidate, Kat Abughazaleh, claimed she was thrown to the ground and hit with tear gas while standing arm-in-arm with others in front of the driveway. “This is what it looks like when ICE violates our First Amendment rights,” she posted on X, sharing a video of the incident.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), however, painted a different picture, referring to the demonstrators as “rioters.” DHS alleged the group surrounded the facility, assaulted officers, used tear gas themselves, slashed tires, and trespassed on private property. The agency also claimed local police failed to respond to multiple calls for assistance and confirmed that at least three people were arrested.
Friday’s events follow a string of high-profile immigration enforcement actions in Illinois that have drawn criticism from state officials, including Governor JB Pritzker. Just last week, an ICE officer fatally shot a man during a traffic stop in the region, prompting renewed calls for transparency and oversight.
Federal officials have defended their tactics, citing similar operations in Los Angeles that triggered days of unrest and led to the deployment of National Guard troops. Gregory Bovino, a Customs and Border Protection chief seen at the Broadview site, has previously faced scrutiny for his use of aggressive enforcement strategies in California.
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