Politics
Broadview Fire Chief Demanding Federal Officials Remove Fencing Around ICE Facility
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle is pictured in Chicago in an image uploaded to social media by the agency on Sept. 8, 2025. (Credit: ICE)
A suburban fire chief has asked federal authorities to remove fencing placed up around an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center this week in Broadview.
Acting Broadview Fire Chief Matthew Martin on Tuesday wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — the agency that oversees ICE — demanding that the fence be removed immediately.
That fencing, Martin said, was “illegally built” without a permit on a public street that falls under the jurisdiction of the village, and is blocking the Broadview Fire Department from accessing that area.
“In case of fire or other emergencies at businesses located on the street, Broadview Fire apparatus would be unable to use the road to access these businesses,” Martin wrote.
According to Martin, the fencing went up in the “early morning hours” Tuesday, following protests outside the ICE facility. Federal agents reportedly deployed tear gas, pepper spray bullets and flash bang grenades against demonstrators during large Friday protests at the facility last week.
A spokesperson for the village said DHS officials have not yet responded to their letter as of Wednesday afternoon.
