CHICAGO — Authorities arrested 21 protesters Friday outside a Chicago-area federal immigration facility that activists claim operates as a de facto detention center, burdened by inhumane conditions.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office reported that arrests were made by midday while they worked to verify identities and potential charges of those detained.
Prior to the arrests, demonstrators filled the area with songs and chants, gathering around 10 a.m. before allegedly breaching protest barriers in an attempt to approach the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Protesters held signs with slogans like 'God’s Love Knows No Borders' and 'God Demands Freedom,' while many prayed in solidarity. The crowd initially swelled to about 300 before disbanding.
The facility in Broadview, Illinois, has experienced consistent protests, particularly on Fridays, opposing the federal immigration crackdown known as 'Operation Midway Blitz,' which has resulted in over 3,200 arrests in the Chicago metropolitan area since September, targeting individuals suspected of violating immigration laws.
The aggressive tactics employed by Customs and Border Protection agents and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have faced significant backlash through legal challenges and spirited street protests, drawing attention to the ongoing human rights issues surrounding immigration enforcement.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office reported that arrests were made by midday while they worked to verify identities and potential charges of those detained.
Prior to the arrests, demonstrators filled the area with songs and chants, gathering around 10 a.m. before allegedly breaching protest barriers in an attempt to approach the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Protesters held signs with slogans like 'God’s Love Knows No Borders' and 'God Demands Freedom,' while many prayed in solidarity. The crowd initially swelled to about 300 before disbanding.
The facility in Broadview, Illinois, has experienced consistent protests, particularly on Fridays, opposing the federal immigration crackdown known as 'Operation Midway Blitz,' which has resulted in over 3,200 arrests in the Chicago metropolitan area since September, targeting individuals suspected of violating immigration laws.
The aggressive tactics employed by Customs and Border Protection agents and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have faced significant backlash through legal challenges and spirited street protests, drawing attention to the ongoing human rights issues surrounding immigration enforcement.
