CHICAGO (AP) — Authorities arrested 21 protesters Friday outside a Chicago-area federal immigration facility that activists say functions as a de facto detention center and is plagued by inhumane conditions.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office reported that the arrests were made by midday, and they are currently verifying identities and potential charges.
Just moments before the clash, demonstrators were singing and chanting. Around 10 a.m., a large group, aware of the likelihood of being arrested, allegedly crossed a protest barrier and attempted to approach the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.
The protesters carried signs with messages such as “God’s Love Knows No Borders” and “God Demands Freedom,” and many were engaged in prayer. The crowd swelled to about 300 participants before beginning to disperse.
Officers from both the Illinois State Police and Cook County sheriffs’ police were present at the scene.
The Broadview facility has been a hotspot for protests, especially on Fridays, against federal immigration actions known as “Operation Midway Blitz,” which has resulted in over 3,200 arrests in the Chicago metropolitan area since September of individuals suspected of violating immigration laws.
The aggressive tactics employed by agents from Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have faced criticism through legal challenges and public protests.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office reported that the arrests were made by midday, and they are currently verifying identities and potential charges.
Just moments before the clash, demonstrators were singing and chanting. Around 10 a.m., a large group, aware of the likelihood of being arrested, allegedly crossed a protest barrier and attempted to approach the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.
The protesters carried signs with messages such as “God’s Love Knows No Borders” and “God Demands Freedom,” and many were engaged in prayer. The crowd swelled to about 300 participants before beginning to disperse.
Officers from both the Illinois State Police and Cook County sheriffs’ police were present at the scene.
The Broadview facility has been a hotspot for protests, especially on Fridays, against federal immigration actions known as “Operation Midway Blitz,” which has resulted in over 3,200 arrests in the Chicago metropolitan area since September of individuals suspected of violating immigration laws.
The aggressive tactics employed by agents from Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have faced criticism through legal challenges and public protests.
