Federal agents came under attack near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Friday as violent protests continue to plague the area.
Multiple vehicles rammed and boxed in DHS officers during routine patrols, forcing them to fire defensive shots at an armed assailant.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the incident, stating, “This morning, during routine patrolling in Broadview… our brave law enforcement officers were rammed by vehicles and boxed in by 10 cars.”
According to McLaughlin, agents were unable to move their vehicles and had to exit their cars to respond. One of the attackers was armed with a semi-automatic weapon, prompting officers to open fire.
The armed suspect, a woman recently identified in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection bulletin, had previously doxxed federal agents and issued violent threats online. McLaughlin noted that the woman “drove herself to the hospital to get care for wounds” after law enforcement returned fire. No federal officers were injured in the confrontation.
Chicago Police reportedly withdrew from the scene and refused to assist federal agents in securing the area, per Trending Politics.
McLaughlin described the situation as escalating, with “a growing crowd” prompting the deployment of special operations units to regain control. Details about the exact time and location of the shooting have not been released.
The Broadview ICE facility has been a hotspot for repeated attacks by far-left mobs in recent weeks. Protesters have rammed vehicles, slashed tires, and thrown rocks at agents while blocking entrances to federal property.
Some incidents have been recorded and shared online by progressive political figures, including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and Chicago-area candidate Kat Abughazaleh, who allegedly obstructed federal vehicles during protests.
Federal officers have attempted to control the crowds with pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets, but protesters have frequently outnumbered them.
The ongoing unrest has forced a significant federal presence at the facility, including DHS, ATF, and Border Patrol agents, with several arrests reported during recent interventions. Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino personally helped clear rioters from the facility entrance, though demonstrations have persisted through the weekend.
The escalation comes amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement and federal presence in Democrat-controlled cities. The aggressive behavior of protesters and refusal of local police to assist federal officers has drawn national attention and raised questions about the safety of law enforcement personnel.
McLaughlin emphasized the seriousness of the attack, noting that federal officers faced direct threats from armed individuals while performing their duties. The incident adds to a growing list of violent encounters at the Broadview ICE facility, which has become a flashpoint in Chicago-area immigration disputes.
Federal authorities are continuing investigations into the shooting and are expected to press charges against the armed assailant. The deployment of additional law enforcement resources suggests that officials anticipate further unrest.
The situation underscores the risks federal officers face while enforcing immigration and border security policies in cities where local authorities may not cooperate.
