A police chief on the edge of Chicago said Tuesday that his officers have been repeatedly exposed to tear gas deployed by federal agents, as he announced that his department had opened three criminal investigations into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Speaking alongside other local leaders, Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills said the situation that had unfolded at an ICE detention facility in his village had created a “dangerous situation” for the community and first responders.
“As a long-time police officer of 37 years, I was verbally assaulted on September 12 while being on the scene ensuring everyone’s First Amendment rights were protected,” Mills said. “The ICE agents were doing their operation, our officers were there, and one of the agents basically told me I was a fascist, and I was not doing my job, neither were my officers.
“I was offended because, in my 37 years working with the Chicago Police Department, I’ve worked with a lot of federal agencies on criminal investigations, that has never happened. We might not always see eye-to-eye, but we find a way to work it out.”
In response, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek that Thomas and other leaders had chosen to “smear ICE and launch a bogus criminal investigation”.
Why It Matters
As the Trump administration has rolled out its latest immigration crackdown in Chicago – Operation Midway Blitz – its base at Broadview has seen several days of protest from locals angry and concerned about the conditions immigrants are being held in. DHS insists that local leaders should be in full support of the federal government’s immigration enforcement efforts and not stand in the way.
What To Know
Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson told reporters Tuesday that the “relentless deployment of tear gas, pepper spray and mace” at the ICE facility in her village was harming locals, police officers and other first responders, as well as Americans seeking to exercise their First Amendment rights.
“The gas clouds generally irritate people within 200 to 700 feet, but the wind can carry it further,” Thompson said.
"This unacceptable risk to those sworn to protect the community is a profound failure of the federal government to be a good neighbor," she said. "It also is a moral failure."
Thompson and Mills’ comments come after escalating tensions in the streets outside the Broadview Processing Center, which houses recently detained immigrants under ICE investigation.
Last week, a Democratic Congressional candidate was seen being thrown to the ground by a federal agent – the moment was captured on video – while local leaders reported having to leave the protest to decontaminate themselves after tear gas was deployed.
Federal agents have been seen using force to move protestors along, including tear gas and rubber bullets.
Over the weekend, DHS said that “11 violent rioters” were detained at the site, with two guns and a potential explosive device found. The news, along with other recent incidents at ICE facilities, including in Dallas, Texas, prompted Attorney General Pam Bondi to deploy more federal agents to ICE sites, while promising to prosecute protestors.
Thompson said that she believed ICE had “generated criminal activity” in Broadview, announcing three criminal investigations. Two of those relate to alleged hit-and-run incidents involving vehicles versus pedestrians, while the third is linked to criminal damage to property involving a news reporter.
Mills said that he had been working as a cop for 37 years and had never experienced anything like the situation unfolding in his community. He also sought to debunk claims by DHS that his department has ignored calls for help from ICE, describing this as “totally false”.
The mayor and chief said they had repeatedly asked DHS for cooperation with locals, but had either not heard back or been denied requests.
DHS has insisted that Operation Midway Blitz, which has seen a sharp rise in federal agents deployed to Chicago and its suburbs, is necessary to detain large numbers of known illegal immigrants.
Trump administration officials have also criticized Democratic leaders in the area – namely Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson – for their sanctuary policies which limit local agency cooperation with ICE.
Pritzker has asked residents to document how federal agents are going about the operation, but not to turn their protests into violence.
What People Are Saying
Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson, speaking Tuesday: “Let me say this: beleaguered Broadview residents. Our Hispanic residents, our African American residents, our Asian American residents, our white residents are all begging for relief from ICE siege of our neighborhood and our community.
“They are calling me, they are texting me, they are coming to the village hall asking for help. In effect, the Department of Homeland Security is running a disinformation campaign that would make even Russia blush.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a statement to Newsweek: “Less than a week after a terrorist attack at an ICE facility in Dallas, Mayor Katrina Thompson, Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills, and Acting Fire Chief Matt Martin chose to smear ICE and launch a bogus criminal investigation into our brave ICE law enforcement.
“Our ICE officers are facing a more than 1000% increase in assaults inducing sniper attacks, cars being used as weapons, and assaults from rioters. Our brave ICE law enforcement should be thanked for risking their lives every day to arrest murderers, pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and terrorists instead of vilified by sanctuary politicians.
“It’s disheartening that even after the terrorist attack and arrests of rioters with guns outside the Broadview ICE facility these sanctuary politicians chose engage in political theatre to inflame hatred of ICE.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, on X Monday: “People of Illinois, we need your help.Get your cell phones out – record what you see. Put it on social media. Peacefully ask for badge numbers and identification. Speak up for your neighbors. We need to let the world know this is happening – and that we won’t stand for it.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a memo: “Enough is enough. The Department of Justice will stand strong when federal law enforcement officers are attacked or threatened for doing their sworn duty on behalf of the United States government."
What’s Next
Protests are likely to continue at Broadview and at other ICE facilities across the country, while the Trump administration has been clear that it will continue to roll out the president’s agenda on immigration.
