Oct. 24 (UPI) — Protesters on Friday clashed again with Customs and Enforcement Agency agents and other law enforcement outside an immigration processing center in suburban Chicago.
Other ICE operations have been reported in the southwest Chicago area, where there is a sizable immigrant population.
About 12 miles from the ICE processing center in Broadview, an elementary school was on lockdown amid reports of agents in the area.
On Thursday, about 10 miles from Broadview, two Chicago Public Schools students allegedly were assaulted by federal agents on their way to school in Little Village near the Discount Mall. The area is part of Chicago’s Mexican community.
And in Gary, Ind., about 37 miles southeast of Broadview, there was an anti-ICE protest about deportation flights from an airport.
An activist writes a message on a barricade as she and others gather near the ICE detention center to protest against the immigration policies of the Trump administration in the Broadview neighborhood near Chicago, Illinois on Friday, October 24, 2025. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE,) Department of Homeland Security Agents, and FBI agents have been rounding up and detaining alleged undocumented immigrants in Chicago and neighboring areas. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
President Donald Trump has ordered National Guard personnel into Chicagoland but a federal judge has barred them before a full trial or the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in. FBI agents also have been sent to the area, along with local police and Illinois state troopers.
In Broadview, protesters have been showing up weekly at the processing center. On Friday, the protests were contained in what authorities called a safety zone.
Activists sing and chant near the ICE detention center in the Broadview near Chicago on Frida. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
They are demonstrating against the Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz” in an immigration crackdown that began Sept. 9.
“I believe that we are creating huge wounds, not only for the people who are being detained, but for the ICE officers who are doing these horrible things. I feel terrible for everybody,” Mary Kelly, who lives in nearby Oak Park, told WLS-TV.
An activist stencils messages on barricades near the ICE detention center as protests continue against the immigration policies of the Trump administration in the Broadview neighborhood near Chicago, Illinois on Friday, October 24, 2025. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE,) Department of Homeland Security Agents, and FBI agents have been rounding up and detaining alleged undocumented immigrants in Chicago and neighboring areas. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
Last Friday, Illinois State Police arrested 14 people, including one charged with obstructing/resisting police.
Residents and activists have challenged Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson’s executive orders that limit protests to between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and restrict access to areas near the facility.
An activists holds her flag sigh near the ICE detention center as she protests against the immigration policies of the Trump administration in the Broadview neighborhood near Chicago, Illinois on Friday, October 24, 2025. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE,) Department of Homeland Security Agents, and FBI agents have been rounding up and detaining alleged undocumented immigrants in Chicago and neighboring areas. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
They showed up on Monday at a Village Board meeting, saying the rules infringe on their free speech.
“I witnessed agents hitting people on the ground who were doing nothing,” protester Amanda Tovar told officials.
Activists hold flowers and shout at police as they gather near the ICE detention center to protest against the immigration policies of the Trump administration in the Broadview neighborhood near Chicago, Illinois on Friday, October 24, 2025. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE,) Department of Homeland Security Agents, and FBI agents have been rounding up and detaining alleged undocumented immigrants in Chicago and neighboring areas. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
She noted a viral incident in which the Rev. David Black was struck in the head by pepper balls by federal agents.
“We’ve been brutalized first by ICE, now by the Illinois State Police,” one speaker said. “I mean, what happened to us on Saturday is insane. We’re peaceful protesters. It’s a National Day of Protesting and we get beat up for staying past 6 p.m.”
Cook County Sheriffs Police officers walks towards activistsd near the ICE detention center as activists protest against the immigration policies of the Trump administration in the Broadview neighbohood near Chicago, Illinois on Friday, October 24, 2025. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE,) Department of Homeland Security Agents, and FBI agents have been rounding up and detaining alleged undocumented immigrants in Chicago and neighboring areas. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez and State Sen. Celina Villanueva have criticized “fascist” tactics by federal authorities.
Alderman Daniel La Spata told WLS-TV there have been “numerous confirmed sightings of ICE” throughout the West Town community area, including Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park and the Humboldt Park border.
Activists gather holding signs and in costumes near the ICE detention center to protest against the immigration policies of the Trump administration in the Broadview neighborhood near Chicago, Illinois on Friday, October 24, 2025. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE,) Department of Homeland Security Agents, and FBI agents have been rounding up and detaining alleged undocumented immigrants in Chicago and neighboring areas. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
School on soft lockdown
A.N. Pritzker School, an elementary school, had a soft lockdown for the second day and won’t open “until further notice,” the school’s principal said in a message posted on its website.
The school is named after a business magnate, attorney and philanthropist who is the grandfather of Illinois Gov. JD Pritzer.
“This is a Soft Lockdown, it is not an actual emergency, but rather a safety precaution,” the message said.
The soft lockdown began in the early afternoon.
“I want to take a moment to speak to each of you with care and concern. It has been brought to our attention that ICE agents have been reported in our neighborhood. As your principal, my top priority is your safety and well-being,” the principal said in the message.
WMAQ-TV didn’t receive a response from the Department of Homeland Security.
Two protesting students detained
In Little Village, WGN-TV reported two students saw masked ICE agents in the area, and decided to join in a protest and were subsequently detained.
“These kids were en route to school,” Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez said. “They saw the horrific scenes when you see masked individuals coming for your neighbors. They were unfortunately detained. One had blood on his face.”
In all, four students from Benito Juarez High School watched the protest.
“I am so angry and frustrated that these students have to add this worry to their school day,” Liz Winfield, teacher at Benito Juarez told WGN. “They should be worrying about college acceptance or if they’re going to get a date for the school dance. It is outrageous and unacceptable. They shouldn’t be worried about being taken by ICE on the way to school in the morning.”
Witnesses said the agents, donning military-style camouflage gear and gas masks, deployed tear gas.
“I started coughing a bit and went to the park to recover and then they started throwing tear gas closer to Sacramento. They detained two young people,” State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez said.
A security guard was also arrested when he asked the agents to show a warrant.
Chicago police, responding to the situation, said they arrested one person for battery to one of their officers.
It was the second day that federal immigration agents targeted the area.
Photos and video were posted on social media. People also blew whistles warning neighbors about the agents, the Chicago Sun Times reported.
The agents were led by U.S. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino.
On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis ordered to attend a hearing Tuesday after he was accused of violating a temporary restraining order limiting federal agents’ use of certain tactics to suppress protests or prevent media coverage of immigration enforcement in Illinois.
Ellis, appointed by President Barack Obama, earlier ordered Bovino to sit for a deposition with attorneys in the case.
Protests in Indiana
Organizers on Friday led an anti-ICE demonstration at the Gary/Chicago International Airport, a joint civil-military public airport in Indiana. The airport is adjacent U.S. Customs facility where immigration processing takes place.
“There is a direct connection between NWI and Chicago ICE raids and it’s facilitated by the Gary/Chicago International Airport,” a protest flyer reads that was obtained by The TRiiBE, a collaboration with indie investigative newsroom Unraved Press and alt-weekly Chicago Reader.
On Oct. 10, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton’s statement condemned the increased ICE activity.
