Three protesters were arrested after Customs and Immigration Enforcement agents clashed with more than «100 rioters» outside a processing center west of Chicago.
Sept. 20 Three protesters were arrested after U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agents clashed with more than «100 rioters» outside a processing center in west suburban Chicago, the Department of Homeland Security said.
The incident occurred on Friday morning outside the Broadview processing facility, in which «rioters assaulted law enforcement, threw tear gas cans, slashed tires of cars, blocked the entrance of the building, and trespassed on private property», the agency said in a news release.
The situation at the facility, located 13 miles west of downtown Chicago, escalated during the day.
During the morning, vans picked up and dropped off rioters «as an organized effort to obstruct ICE law enforcement», the agency said.
On Friday afternoon, one woman appeared to be shot with a paintball gun at close range, WLS-TV reported. She was placed in handcuffs.
Just before 8 p.m., agents launched tear gas into the crowd outside the detention facility.
«Our ICE enforcement officers are facing a more than 1000% increase in assaults against them», HHS said. «Disturbingly, in recent days, two ICE officers’ have had cars used as weapons against them.»
ICE has stepped up enforcement in Chicago as part of «Operation Midway Blitz», which began Sept. 8. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who led an immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, was on hand at the facility.
Since personnel were added last week, the operation has «resulted in the arrest of hundreds of criminal illegal aliens, including Tren de Aragua gang members», whom DHS said «prior criminal histories of» murder, sexual assault, drug trafficking, robbery and other offenses.
Chicago is a sanctuary city, meaning local, county or state law enforcement doesn’t need to cooperate with federal authorities to protect undocumented immigrants.
