On Friday, a group of 14 suburban mothers demonstrated outside the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, engaging in civil disobedience as they sat in a circle in the middle of the road. This act was part of their broader effort to demand an end to what they describe as a “campaign of chaos” orchestrated by the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration enforcement operation, known as “Midway Blitz.”
The mothers, hailing from various western suburbs, voiced their frustration over the trauma inflicted on their communities due to heightened immigration enforcement. They expressed deep concerns for friends, family members, and neighbors who are living in fear, with many at risk of being separated from their loved ones.
Ellen Toobin, an Oak Park resident among the protesters, emphasized the responsibility she feels as a privileged individual to amplify the struggles faced by immigrant families. “It is worse than you can imagine out on the streets right now… Our communities are living in abject fear, and it’s time for people that look like us to take a stand,” she stated while urging others to take action beyond social media, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
In conjunction with the demonstration, approximately 20 vehicles passed by the intersection of Beech and Lexington, honking and displaying signs with slogans such as “hands off Chicago,” further supporting the protest against ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.
The day culminated in a total of 16 arrests, which included two additional detentions. Multiple demonstrations, including a multi-faith prayer service, took place throughout the day, all sharing unified messages against the current immigration enforcement practices. Community members, alongside faith leaders, raised alarms about the tactics employed during these ICE operations and the conditions reported inside the Broadview processing center.
Father Michael Pfleger of the Saint Sabina Church voiced strong opposition to the presence of ICE in the community, declaring, “They need to get the hell out of Chicago, and get the hell out of Illinois.” He reaffirmed the commitment to fight against their actions and called for the release of those held in what he described as inhumane conditions.
Moreover, this wave of protests followed a federal judge’s ruling mandating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance the treatment of detainees at the Broadview facility. The ruling requires the DHS to provide basic necessities, including clean bedding and adequate hygiene supplies, beginning Friday. Despite the judge’s orders, the DHS has continually refuted claims of inhumane treatment, asserting that improvements have already been made in detainee care.
In a related status hearing regarding the conditions at Broadview, Judge Laura McNally expressed her intentions to visit the facility soon, indicating ongoing scrutiny of the situation. The protests and legal actions underline a growing movement among community members and leaders to advocate for humane treatment of immigrants and to push back against aggressive enforcement measures that tear families apart.