18 Arrested Outside Broadview ICE Facility Over Weekend: Police

BROADVIEW, IL — Eighteen people were arrested Saturday in connection with the ongoing protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, law enforcement said. The facility has become a flashpoint in recent weeks amid federal authorities’ increased presence and activity in and around Chicago.

The arrestees varied in age from 20 to 42 and were taken into custody on suspicion of a range of offenses, including aggravated battery to an officer, criminal damage to government property, obstructing an officer, disobeying an officer and mob action, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson has taken steps in recent days to limit where and when demonstrators can be active, according to WGN, which reported protesters are now limited to Beach Street between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

State police started clearing out the crowd around 6 p.m. Saturday, NBC Chicago reported.

A fence put up by the Department of Homeland Security in front of the facility must be taken down by the end of Tuesday, a federal judge has ruled, as it is limiting emergency access to Beach Street, according to WGN.

Before Saturday’s dispersal, a procession of faithful marched from St. Eulalia Catholic Church to the facility, where clergy tried to offer communion to the people held inside but were denied, NBC Chicago reported.

Elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, have also been denied entry, according to WGN.