Tear gas deployed amid protest outside suburban ICE processing center

BROADVIEW, Ill. (WGN) — Amid an ongoing immigration enforcement operation in Chicago, activists protesting the actions of ICE gathered outside of a processing center in suburban Broadview on Friday morning.

The group of about 100 protestors gathered outside the gates of the facility, calling for an end to what the Trump administration has dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” an immigration enforcement operation focusing on Chicago and Illinois.

As the group rallied, tear gas and pepper balls began to fill the air as agents attempted to leave the facility. The incident appeared to have unfolded around 8:30 a.m. as a vehicle exited the gates.

WGN-TV crews were on the ground when authorities could be seen deploying what appeared to be tear gas amid the protest.

The crowd outside the facility dispersed shortly after the gas was deployed, but the group had regathered about 10 minutes later.

In the end, at least two of the protesters were detained and taken inside the facility.

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, who was also outside the facility on Friday, said she and the governor have been left in the dark about the immigration operation.

While the ongoing operation has been met with criticism by local and state leaders, agents have made dozens of arrests in the weeks since the operation began.

But as the number of arrests continues to climb, federal agents are facing a growing challenge in the form of private citizens who make up “rapid response teams,” who have been making their presence known on the streets of Chicagoland.

The demonstration is just one of several taking place around Chicagoland on Friday, including a handful set to unfold on local overpasses.