ICE Chicago news: Group of 14 ‘suburban moms’ arrested at Broadview protest today against immigration enforcement
BROADVIEW, Ill. (WLS) — Sheriff’s deputies removed a group of 14 suburban moms, as they call themselves, who were sitting in a circle in the middle of the road outside of the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility as a symbol of civil disobedience on Friday.
These are moms from across the western suburbs, they say. They are demanding an end to the “campaign of chaos,” as they refer to the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration enforcement operation “Midway Blitz.”
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Protesters say they are enraged by the terror being inflicted upon their communities. They say their friends, relatives, caregivers, and neighbors are living in fear, and people are being ripped from their lives and their families.
So, these moms want to use their “privilege as white women,” they say, to amplify what is happening in their neighborhoods and throughout the Chicagoland area and mobilize their community to stand with immigrant families.
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“It is worse than you can imagine out on the streets right now, and it is because of the federal immigration enforcement we’re seeing every day. Our communities are living in abject fear, and it’s time for people that look like us to take a stand and put our own physical bodies in front of those bodies, because it is unacceptable,” said Ellen Toobin, who lives in Oak Park. “I hope that people can hear us inside. I mean, if you see absolutely horrific reporting of the conditions, we are here to stand with our friends and neighbors who have been abducted and terrified.”
Toobin continued, “We are all upset seeing this. We need to get off our phones and onto the streets, because that is what is required at this moment.”
At the same time, a caravan of about 20 cars drove by the intersection of Beech and Lexington outside the Broadview ICE facility. The participants honked their horns, with signs posted on their vehicles that said, “hands off Chicago,” also in protest of the ongoing immigration enforcement.
Two more people were also detained on Friday, bringing the total to 16 arrests, officials said. At least three demonstrations total, all with similar messages, took place outside of the facility on Friday, including a multi-faith prayer service that got underway around 11 a.m.
Community members and faith leaders say they are worried about the tactics being used during immigration operations, and they are concerned about the conditions inside the Broadview processing center.
“They need to get the hell out of Chicago, and get the hell out of Illinois,” said Saint Sabina Church Father Michael Pfleger. “This is not acceptable. We are going to fight against them. We demand the freedom of the folks that have been locked up in these centers in inhumane conditions.”
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The group of multi-faith leaders gathered in prayer. They attempted to access the facility to meet with detainees on Friday, but their request was denied.
“Today, we are demanding that we have the opportunity to provide pastoral and spiritual care for those who are detained,” said Live Free IL Executive Director Rev. Ciera Bates.
The protests came after a federal judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security to improve the treatment of immigration detainees at Broadview.
It requires DHS to issue things like clean bedding to detainees with clean holding cells and enough space to sleep. Twice a day, they must give detainees soap, towels, and adequate meals and water. The judge ordered the changes to go into effect on Friday.
DHS has repeatedly denied allegations of inhumane treatment at the Broadview processing center.
The government has stated they already made improvements, such as ordering wet wipes so detainees can clean themselves while they are in custody.
On Friday, a remote status hearing was held regarding the conditions at the Broadview facility.
Judge Laura McNally said she would like to visit the Broadview facility on Thursday morning. The judge reiterated that the group will be small and both sides must give the court details as to who will attend the visit by next week.
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