Politics
Local, State Police Set Up Designated Protest Areas Outside Broadview ICE Facility as Demonstrations Continue
Law enforcement hold back protesters near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Ill., Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo / Erin Hooley)
Illinois and Cook County law enforcement have constructed designated areas for protesters to “safely exercise their rights” outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in suburban Broadview after federal agents have repeatedly used tear gas and rubber bullets against crowds.
Following a request from Broadview police, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and Illinois State Police established a “temporary Unified Command” to coordinate public safety measures outside the immigration processing facility that has been the site of repeated protests in recent weeks.
“The Unified Command is setting up designated areas where people can safely exercise their rights, which will support the safety of the public, and ensure vehicular traffic can safely access the roads in the area,” ISP said in a statement. “The goal of the Unified Command is to protect the health and safety of all individuals, including nearby Broadview residents and businesses, and enable the peaceful expression of First Amendment rights.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino were reportedly seen at the Broadview facility Friday morning, according to ABC-7.
Gov. JB Pritzker called out Noem early Friday morning, saying she should “no longer be able to step foot inside the State of Illinois without any form of public accountability.”
“It’s been nearly 45 days since Secretary Noem has held an official press conference,” he said in a statement, “so it’s time she faces the public and takes questions from the press to be held accountable for the Trump Administration’s gross misconduct.”
Last weekend, five people were arrested and now face federal charges following confrontations with agents there. At least five more people were arrested outside the facility Friday morning, accordion to the Cook County Sheriff, on charges including battery to a police officer, resisting and obstruction.
Uniformed officers will be on site to help direct people to the designated areas, ISP said, as new barriers were erected around the facility. Those measures were put in place as protesters once again gathered outside the Broadview facility Friday morning.
Fencing around the Broadview ICE facility is pictured on Oct. 3, 2025. (WTTW News)
“The government is waging war on its population,” attorney Rachel Cohen said during a press conference in Broadview Friday. “They started it by abducting people from our community and they continue to escalate against protesters, journalists and elected officials.”
Broadview officials have repeatedly called on ICE to “stop making war” in the west suburban village after agents have deployed pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters at the facility.
Beyond affecting the protesters, officials have said the chemical munitions have also hit first responders and local police working the area.
Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills said this week his officers have been “shell shocked” by the confrontations. He said he’s been on calls with officers as they were “literally choking” from the gas as they attempted to explain what was going on.
