DHS Sec. Kristi Noem visits Broadview ICE facility as protestors pushed into new ‘free speech zone’

BROADVIEW, Ill. (WGN) — After weeks of clashes between protesters and federal agents outside of an ICE processing facility in suburban Broadview, a new free speech zone has been established by local law enforcement.

The new free zone was established ahead of a visit by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and US Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, who were in Broadview on Friday, though the reason for their visit is unclear.

In a statement shared on X on Friday morning, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized Noem’s visit, calling it a “photo opportunity.”

“Illinois is not a photo opportunity or warzone, it’s a sovereign state where our people deserve rights, respect, and answers,” the governor said.

The free speech zone consists of barricades that will allow people to protest while still allowing ICE agents to move in and out of the facility.

The free speech zone was practically empty on Friday morning as protesters moved to another one of the facility’s entrances shortly after it was established.

Chicago police later confirmed that five people were arrested near the facility on Friday.

The new free speech zone is not sitting well with some protest organizers, who are expected to hold a press conference at 9 a.m.

Several of the clashes between agents and protesters that have unfolded in recent weeks began as agents attempted to make their way into the gates of the facility, but were halted by protesters.

Agents have used tear gas, pepper balls and other non-lethal weapons to push protesters back.

Broadview elected leaders and police have slammed ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for its use of force on protesters and say they are endangering the neighborhood surrounding the facility.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson and other village officials accused ICE of ‘hostile actions’ that are endangering residents, first responders, and protesters.

But ICE officials pushed back with a claim that federal agents continue to face unlawful activity and violence by ‘rioters’ at the facility.

Following a protest over the weekend, federal charges were filed against five people accused of forcibly assaulting or resisting federal agents.

The protests come amid an immigration enforcement operation the Trump administration has dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” which focuses on Chicago and Illinois.

But the operation has been met with intense scrutiny from state and local leaders as well as community members, including those who make up “rapid response teams,” who have been making their presence known on the streets of Chicagoland.

Immigration rights groups have even launched a public dashboard to track ICE arrests and list the rights undocumented people have when dealing with agents, and provide legal assistance as well as a hotline people can call.

Despite the pushback, more than 900 arrests have been made in the weeks since the operation began.

Amid the ongoing operation, the FAA has issued a ban on private drone flights over the entire City of Chicago as well as the northern, western and southern suburbs.

In addition to the FAA’s private drone ban, Pritzker said this week that the Department of Homeland Security could soon deploy troops to Chicagoland.

Pritzker said the Department of Homeland Security sent a memo to the Department of War requesting 100 active-duty troops be deployed across Chicago to provide protection for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as they continue “Operation Midway Blitz.”