Recent weeks have seen a series of violent incidents at the Federal Immigration Processing Center in Broadview, Illinois, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agency has reported that the center has been under constant “violent attack” by protesters, who are far from engaging in “peaceful demonstrations” and have posed serious threats to federal law enforcement officers and the local community.
Broadview, located in the outskirts of Chicago, has become a focal point of protests in recent weeks with the local ICE immigration facility being the target. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that last week, a fierce clash erupted at the Broadview facility where protesters used rocks, bottles, fireworks, and other objects to attack law enforcement officers, block enforcement vehicles, and threaten with verbal aggression. In response, federal law enforcement officers have repeatedly used riot control measures and arrested 16 individuals.
According to a report by WTTW, a Chicago public television station, on Friday, Mayor Katrina Thompson of Broadview sent a letter to ICE Field Office Director Russell Hott accusing the agency of “waging war on her community” in response to protests and “jeopardizing the safety of nearby residents.”
ICE, however, accused Thompson of “distorting facts” and “placing blame on the wrong side,” stating that their officers are working to protect her community and others from real threats, while facing violence against their own personal safety, including incidents inside the Broadview facility.
“Over the past week alone, violent agitators have been arrested for assaulting and obstructing law enforcement, three of them carrying loaded firearms,” ICE reported.
Last Friday, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons responded to Thompson’s letter, accusing her of fueling “escalation of violence by agitators” that puts federal employees and residents at risk.
Lyons noted in his letter that ICE enforcement officers had repeatedly requested assistance from the Broadview Police Department and local law enforcement agencies but received no response, forcing federal officials to take measures to control the demonstrators themselves.
“If our officers had the necessary support, the crowd control measures you mentioned in your letter would not have been implemented,” he wrote.
He emphasized that protesters have posed a direct threat to the lives of law enforcement officers. Their chants of “Shoot ICE” and attempts to physically breach the Broadview facility cannot be considered peaceful protests. “These individuals’ irrational behavior, and their attempts to hinder federal law enforcement, are unacceptable and pose a direct threat to the lives of federal law enforcement officers and public safety,” he wrote. “These criminals are launching attacks, disrupting lawful enforcement. Your failure to provide assistance in resolving the dilemma faced by federal law enforcement equates to participating in obstructing justice.”
“You can either continue to cause trouble or choose to be part of the solution, oversee your police enforcing local laws, and cooperate with us to rid the community of violent criminals,” Lyons stated.
David Ormsby, a spokesperson for the city of Broadview, rebutted Lyons’ letter, telling Fox News Digital, “The Acting ICE Director must have used the artificial intelligence Grok AI to write this letter, as it is filled with fictional elements.”