Fourteen women from Chicago’s western suburbs were arrested Friday after staging a sit-in outside the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing center, authorities confirmed.
The protesters, aged 23 to 59, linked hands and blocked traffic in a restricted area, prompting charges of obstruction and disorderly conduct.
The group said their actions aimed to draw attention to the treatment of detainees at Broadview.
One participant explained that their presence was intended to advocate for illegal immigrants unable to represent themselves.
According to BizPac Review, demonstrators framed the sit-in as a use of their “privilege as white women” to bring visibility to the conditions inside the facility.
Community members responded positively to the protest.
The Daily Mail reports that local residents praised the women on social media, calling their actions courageous and inspiring examples of civic engagement.
Comments emphasized support for peaceful dissent while encouraging broader attention to the issues raised by the protesters.
The demonstration coincided with a federal court order requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to improve detainee conditions at the Broadview center.
U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman previously ruled that detainees should not be forced to sleep in overcrowded spaces or near unsanitary conditions, such as overflowing toilets, highlighting long-standing concerns over facility management.
DHS defended its practices, with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stating that all detainees receive three meals daily, access to water and the ability to communicate with family members and legal counsel.
The agency also emphasized that it processes some of the nation’s most dangerous offenders while maintaining proper care for all individuals in custody.
The protest also drew wider community involvement.
Church groups held a prayer service and attempted to deliver letters requesting access to provide spiritual guidance to detainees.
In addition, a caravan of approximately 20 vehicles drove past the facility, honking horns and displaying signs in support of the protesters’ message.
Tensions surrounding the Broadview facility have escalated in recent weeks.
Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh and five others were indicted on federal charges, including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, following a protest at the same facility.
Video evidence reportedly captured confrontations between protesters and federal vehicles, highlighting ongoing legal and enforcement disputes.
The arrests took place amid the Trump administration’s Operation Midway Blitz, launched in early September to increase ICE enforcement in Chicago.
The operation has led to over 3,000 arrests in just two months.
Federal officials maintain the campaign targets dangerous illegal immigrants, but critics have raised concerns about aggressive tactics, including the use of tear gas and forceful apprehensions.
Protesters described their actions as opposition to what they called a “campaign of chaos” by DHS.
They urged public attention to federal immigration enforcement in suburban neighborhoods and stressed the importance of community members actively protecting their neighborhoods.
One participant from Oak Park said residents must take a stand to shield those affected by enforcement activities.
The Broadview facility remains under legal scrutiny and frequent activism, underscoring ongoing tensions between federal enforcement and local advocacy.
Officials continue to assert that detainees are treated according to federal standards, even as calls for reform persist.
The combination of legal challenges, community protests, and heightened ICE activity demonstrates the complex environment surrounding immigration enforcement in Chicago
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