Federal Agents Clash with Protesters at Immigration Enforcement Building

Fri Oct 17 2025 23:51:45 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Tensions escalated in Broadview, Illinois as federal agents confronted protesters at an ICE facility, using pepper balls and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

On Friday, federal agents utilized pepper balls and tear gas against protesters near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Broadview, Illinois. The violent confrontation arose during a demonstration against recent immigration enforcement actions, resulting in several injuries among participants. Elected official Bushra Amiwala shared her experience of being shot by pepper bullets, calling the action unprovoked. The ongoing protests have led to demands for the removal of a newly installed fence perceived as a security threat by local officials.

BROADVIEW, Ill. — Federal agents engaged in a tense confrontation with protesters at an immigration enforcement building in Broadview, just west of Chicago, on Friday. The situation escalated into chaos when federal agents resorted to firing pepper balls and tear gas at the demonstrators, many of whom were merely attempting to make their voices heard against the surge of immigration enforcement actions that began earlier this month.

The conflict unfolded over several hours as protesters gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Agents targeted the crowd with chemical agents after some demonstrators attempted to obstruct a vehicle headed for the building. Witnesses reported that many protesters were positioned well away from the street and were not blocking any traffic.

In the chaos, multiple individuals reportedly fell to the ground or fled the scene as agents continued to disperse the crowd.

Prior weeks saw similar protests, with demonstrators unsuccessfully trying to block ICE vehicles from entering the facility. Tensions were heightened by the installation of a new fence, prompting Friday's demonstrators to gather even further back from the site.

Earlier in the day, a small group of protesters used ribbons to tie their handwritten messages of support to detainees onto the fence, with slogans like No human is illegal and We stand with you! You are not illegal! Agents responded early by shooting pepper balls into that group.

During the commotion, Bushra Amiwala, a member of the Skokie Board of Education, recounted being shot by pepper bullets while tying notes to the fence, leading to coughing and respiratory difficulties. She decried the use of chemical agents as “fully unprovoked,” highlighting the unexpected nature of the agents' response as they demonstrated peacefully.

Despite the protests and calls from local village officials for the removal of the 'illegally built' fence, it remained intact as of Friday. Uncertainty remains over potential arrests from the protest, although federal authorities stated that several individuals were detained during previous demonstrations. Federal officials characterized those arrests as targeting 'rioters' rather than peaceful protesters.