Broadview officials are demanding the Department of Homeland Security take down an “illegally built” fence erected outside an immigration processing and detention facility that’s been the site of volatile protests amid a recent blitz of Chicago-area immigration enforcement by the administration of President Donald Trump.
But federal officials say the fence is needed for public safety, blaming the immigration sanctuary policies of Illinois politicians.
The local dispute over the fence comes as immigration enforcement faces an uptick in violence and threats nationwide, culminating with a fatal shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas on Wednesday.
In a letter to DHS Tuesday, Broadview acting Fire Chief Matthew Martin said the fence was built without a permit along the public street outside of the facility at 1930 Beach St., blocking Fire Department access to the road.
“In case of fire or other emergencies, at businesses located on that street, Broadview fire apparatus would be unable to use the road to access these businesses,” Martin said in the letter. “The Broadview Fire Department is reaching out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to demand that the fence be removed immediately.”
But Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the fence was needed to keep the area safe, citing the actions of protesters as well as the policies of Illinois politicians.
“DHS is extending fencing surrounding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Broadview Processing Center after rioters and sanctuary politicians obstructed law enforcement, threw tear gas cans, bottles and fireworks, slashed tires of cars, blocked the entrance of the building and trespassed on private property,” she said in an email. “Police under J.B. Pritzker’s sanctuary jurisdiction refused to assist federal law enforcement with violent crowds.”
In Dallas early Wednesday, a shooter with a rifle opened fire on a ICE facility, killing two detainees and injuring another before taking his own life, authorities said. No ICE agents were injured.
“The shooter fired indiscriminately at the ICE building, including at a van in the sallyport where the victims were shot,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a release about the Dallas shooting.
The FBI said at a morning news conference that ammunition found at the scene contained anti-ICE messaging. The head of the agency, Kash Patel, released a photo on social media that shows a bullet containing the words “ANTI-ICE” written with what appeared to be marker.
Broadview officials did not immediately respond to Tribune questions about whether the shooting in Dallas would have any impact on the fate of the fence at the west suburban facility.
The Broadview facility has been the scene of turbulent protests against Trump’s recent immigration crackdown, known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”
On Friday, federal agents hurled tear gas and pepper spray into a crowd of protesters who were trying to block vans from entering and exiting the west suburban facility.
Homeland Security has described the protest as an “organized effort to obstruct ICE law enforcement,” and accused demonstrators of throwing tear gas cans and assaulting officers.
But many Illinois officials have taken part in demonstrations at the Broadview facility or championed protesters there.
During the protest Friday, Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vásquez, 8th, lamented that multiple demonstrators had been detained by federal authorities that day.
“I’m incredibly infuriated, you know? … These are U.S. citizens that have a right to freedom of speech and to protest,” she had told the Tribune.
The Associated Press and Chicago Tribune reporters Dan Petrella and Jason Meisner contributed.
Homeland Security says fencing is needed for protection amid protests. The local dispute comes as authorities investigate a fatal shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas.
Broadview officials are demanding the Department of Homeland Security take down an “illegally built” fence erected outside an immigration processing and detention facility that’s been the site of volatile protests amid a recent blitz of Chicago-area immigration enforcement by the administration of President Donald Trump.
But federal officials say the fence is needed for public safety, blaming the immigration sanctuary policies of Illinois politicians.
The local dispute over the fence comes as immigration enforcement faces an uptick in violence and threats nationwide, culminating with a fatal shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas on Wednesday.
In a letter to DHS Tuesday, Broadview acting Fire Chief Matthew Martin said the fence was built without a permit along the public street outside of the facility at 1930 Beach St., blocking Fire Department access to the road.
“In case of fire or other emergencies, at businesses located on that street, Broadview fire apparatus would be unable to use the road to access these businesses,” Martin said in the letter. “The Broadview Fire Department is reaching out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to demand that the fence be removed immediately.”
But Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the fence was needed to keep the area safe, citing the actions of protesters as well as the policies of Illinois politicians.
“DHS is extending fencing surrounding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Broadview Processing Center after rioters and sanctuary politicians obstructed law enforcement, threw tear gas cans, bottles and fireworks, slashed tires of cars, blocked the entrance of the building and trespassed on private property,” she said in an email. “Police under J.B. Pritzker’s sanctuary jurisdiction refused to assist federal law enforcement with violent crowds.”
In Dallas early Wednesday, a shooter with a rifle opened fire on a ICE facility, killing two detainees and injuring another before taking his own life, authorities said. No ICE agents were injured.
“The shooter fired indiscriminately at the ICE building, including at a van in the sallyport where the victims were shot,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a release about the Dallas shooting.
The FBI said at a morning news conference that ammunition found at the scene contained anti-ICE messaging. The head of the agency, Kash Patel, released a photo on social media that shows a bullet containing the words “ANTI-ICE” written with what appeared to be marker.
Broadview officials did not immediately respond to Tribune questions about whether the shooting in Dallas would have any impact on the fate of the fence at the west suburban facility.
The Broadview facility has been the scene of turbulent protests against Trump’s recent immigration crackdown, known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”
On Friday, federal agents hurled tear gas and pepper spray into a crowd of protesters who were trying to block vans from entering and exiting the west suburban facility.
Homeland Security has described the protest as an “organized effort to obstruct ICE law enforcement,” and accused demonstrators of throwing tear gas cans and assaulting officers.
But many Illinois officials have taken part in demonstrations at the Broadview facility or championed protesters there.
During the protest Friday, Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vásquez, 8th, lamented that multiple demonstrators had been detained by federal authorities that day.
“I’m incredibly infuriated, you know? … These are U.S. citizens that have a right to freedom of speech and to protest,” she had told the Tribune.
The Associated Press and Chicago Tribune reporters Dan Petrella and Jason Meisner contributed.
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