Authorities arrested 21 protesters on Friday after a tense clash outside a federal immigration facility in Broadview, Illinois, where activists say detainees face inhumane conditions. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that four officers were injured while attempting to redirect demonstrators off a roadway and back behind barriers.
Most of those arrested face charges of obstruction, disorderly conduct, and walking on a highway, while one protester was additionally charged with mob action. Their ages ranged from 23 to 67. Two Broadview police officers and one Cook County Sheriff’s Police officer were taken to hospital, though their injuries were not life-threatening. A Sheriff’s Police officer sustained a lower leg injury and was treated and released, while an Illinois state trooper was treated at the scene.
The confrontation unfolded shortly after 10 a.m., when a large group of protesters allegedly crossed the barrier and attempted to approach the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Moments earlier, demonstrators had been singing, chanting, and praying. Some carried signs reading “God’s Love Knows No Borders” and “God Demands Freedom.” The crowd numbered about 300 people before dispersing.
The Broadview facility has become a flashpoint for weekly demonstrations, particularly on Fridays, against a federal immigration crackdown known as “Operation Midway Blitz.” Since September, the operation has led to more than 3,200 arrests in the Chicago metropolitan area of individuals suspected of violating immigration laws.
The aggressive tactics employed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE have drawn repeated criticism, sparking legal challenges and street protests across the region. Friday’s arrests highlight the growing tension between immigration authorities and activists demanding more humane treatment of detainees.
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