Saturday, October 4, 2025, 5:00 PM

On Friday, Oct. 3, the National Lawyers Guild of Chicago (NLG Chicago) documented multiple arrests by federal and state authorities at a constitutionally protected demonstration outside the notorious ICE detention facility in suburban Broadview, IL.

NLG Chicago confirmed there were 18 arrests in total: 13 by federal law enforcement, and 5 by state or local police. Of the 13 federal arrests, 11 individuals were released without charges after being held for 12 hours. They were driven off-site and released at a gas station, a concerning pattern that NLG Chicago has witnessed with other recent arrests. The remaining two people in federal custody will be held until their appearances in federal court in Chicago on Monday.

Of the 5 state or local arrests, 4 were released from police custody with misdemeanor charges or citations. The remaining person was held in custody overnight for a hearing today in Cook County criminal court, and was ordered released today. We expect this person to be released tonight.

Today, October 4, our legal observers on the ground in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago documented four arrests. We expect that those arrested will be taken to the Broadview ICE detention center, where our volunteer attorneys will attempt to visit them in custody.

Our legal observers also witnessed many violent attacks by federal law enforcement on the community, while the Chicago Police Department stood by watching federal agents’ violence. At one point, a lone federal agent stood in front of a line of Chicago Police officers, and deliberately tossed a can of tear gas into a small crowd of community members who were standing nearby.

NLG Chicago condemns the use of police violence and criminal charges, whether federal, state or local, to suppress the righteous dissent of the people.

We will continue to defend the Constitutional rights of those standing up and speaking out.

September 28, 2025

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, National Lawyers Guild of Chicago (NLG Chicago) witnessed alarming and violent attacks on those assembled to protest at the ICE detention facility in suburban Broadview, IL. The pattern of law enforcement violence and targeted attacks persisted yesterday, with agents launching chemical agents and firing munitions at members of the press and people assembled to protest.

NLG Chicago has confirmed at least 11 arrests from yesterday, including one member of the press who was clearly identified as a journalist. As of Sunday morning, it appears 5 people remain in federal custody. This brings the total number of NLG confirmed arrests at the protests against the Broadview facility to twenty-eight (28), since September 19. Twenty-two (22) people from those confirmed arrests have been released.

Yesterday, multiple Legal Observers were subjected to violence, as federal agents appeared to directly target Legal Observers who were actively documenting arrests and law enforcement actions. Agents used multiple chemical agents, launched kinetic grenades, and shot rubber bullets, mace, and pepper balls against those assembled. One Legal Observer was shot directly in the face with a projectile. Agents also menaced people by pointing firearms at them, including hand guns and a rifle. 

The agents’ attacks were notably distinct from prior days in that officers went after people who were simply gathered to support the active protesters. Officers forcibly removed people sheltering from tear gas in vehicles, resulting in the separation of a child from family members who were bringing food in support of the protest. Agents fired weapons at specific protesters in direct response to their First Amendment-protected statements and snatched protesters’ signs. Officers also confiscated tents used for shade, as well as food, water and first aid supplies, and people’s bike helmets and other personal property, putting them in a dumpster in the restricted area. When some of those present tried to leave in their vehicles, agents blocked them and demanded to illegally search people’s bodies and vehicles.

According to Amanda Yarusso, a volunteer attorney with NLG Chicago, “Last night, our Legal Observers witnessed militarized federal agents deploy chemical weapons and fire projectiles at a crowd of people exercising their First Amendment rights. The violence was an indiscriminate, unprovoked, and illegal use of force. These unlawful actions by federal agents demonstrate this administration’s complete disregard of constitutional standards.”   

“NLG Chicago will continue to provide legal support to individuals exercising their constitutional rights.” said Yarusso.

September 26, 2025, 6:00 PM

Again this Friday, September 26, 2025, federal agents continued escalating their violent attacks on speech at the now notorious ICE detention facility in suburban Broadview, IL. Agents lashed out with violence, targeting members of the press and people assembled to protest.

National Lawyers Guild of Chicago (NLG Chicago) has confirmed at least three more individuals have been arrested by federal agents today, bringing the total number of arrests at Broadview that NLG Chicago has been able to confirm to 16 in the last week, 12 of whom have been released.

NLG Chicago Legal Observers witnessed federal agents attacking gathered protesters, members of the press, and Legal Observers with tear gas, pepper balls, rubber bullets, sponge grenades, and flashbang grenades. Two Legal Observers were shot by rubber bullets, and one was injured when a flashbang grenade exploded near their face. The press was also a target of the agents’ indiscriminate violence and several reporters with clear press identification were shot in the head by pepper balls and rubber bullets. Additionally, on three separate occasions, ICE officers approached a gate at the facility, opened the gate, and without any warning or order to disperse, began firing rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators. Teargas and other weapons have impacted neighboring residents and businesses as reported to Legal Observers. Finally, there were three separate incidents where officers pulled out their firearms and pointed them at people who were complying with orders.

These violent actions by federal law enforcement endangered everyone who was present, including family members of immigrants detained inside the facility, demonstrators, Legal Observers, journalists, elected officials, and other people exercising their First Amendment rights.

Ben Meyer, a volunteer attorney with NLG Chicago said, “These extreme acts of violence against people non-violently exercising their rights to free speech and assembly and targeted attacks on members of the press are a full frontal assault on the First Amendment. This administration’s violent use of government power to suppress dissent embodies its authoritarian and xenophobic agenda.”

“NLG Chicago will continue to zealously defend the constitutional rights of people speaking out against and documenting the federal attack on our communities,” said Meyer.

September 21, 2025, 7:30 AM

On Friday, federal agents significantly escalated their attacks on speech and people protesting at the now notorious ICE detention facility in suburban Broadview, IL. 

From the early morning of September 19 through the late evening, federal law enforcement agents  repeatedly lashed out at people assembled outside. Beginning around 5:45 a.m., agents fired pepper balls at demonstrators without provocation. Agents used pepper balls throughout the day and further escalated with aerosol chemical agents, including appearing to fire projectiles directly at individuals, including at their heads. Two protesters were injured so badly that they were taken to nearby hospitals. Additional injured demonstrators were treated by EMTs and street medics on the scene. We received numerous other reports of injury, including head injuries, lacerations to legs and arms, and bruising from projectile weapons.

NLG Chicago Legal Observers present witnessed law enforcement violence against the gathered crowds, and several observers sustained injuries. Federal agents pointed rifles at unarmed individuals, including marked legal observers. The indiscriminate use of tear gas and pepper balls are still resulting in breathing and lung issues, chemical rashes, and welts more than 24 hours later.

Ultimately, 10 people were arrested by federal law enforcement yesterday. All have been released. We learned that agents transported some detainees away from the facility and then released them miles away behind a BP gas station.

These violent actions by federal law enforcement endangered everyone who was present, including family members of immigrants detained inside the facility, demonstrators, Legal Observers, journalists, elected officials, and other people exercising their First Amendment rights. 

Brad Thomson, a volunteer attorney with NLG Chicago said, “These egregious acts of violence against people exercising their rights to free speech exemplify this administration’s flagrant assault on the First Amendment. The violent use of government power to suppress dissent embodies the authoritarian and xenophobic agenda being pursued by federal authorities.”

“NLG Chicago will continue to zealously defend the Constitutional rights of people speaking out against the federal attack on our communities,” said Thomson.