Evanston mayor among protesters hit with tear gas at ICE facility
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Tear gas fired by federal law enforcement agents fills the air during a clash between protesters and law enforcement outside an immigration processing center in Broadview, Illinois. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Federal agents threw tear gas canisters, shot pepper spray balls and forcibly threw demonstrators to the ground as crowds of protesters attempted to block the driveway several times at U.S. Immigration and Customs facility in Broadview on Friday.
Why it matters: Protests are escalating over the Department of Homeland Security's "Operation Midway Blitz" in the Chicago area.
Driving the news: Evanston mayor and 9th District congressional candidate Daniel Biss was among the protesters injured Friday morning.
- Later in the afternoon, more protesters blocked the driveway to the facility, including Biss's opponent in the 9th district Democratic primary, Kat Abughazaleh. Abughazaleh was violently thrown to the ground by ICE agents in military fatigues.
- A third Democratic candidate from the 9th district race, Bushra Amiwala, said she was also tear-gassed Friday.
What they're saying: "I just couldn't breathe at all," Biss tells Axios. "I found myself on the ground, desperately trying to get air."
Between the lines: Democrats have made attending protests in Bridgeview part of their congressional campaigns.
The other side: The Department of Homeland Security was quick to push back. "These desperate politicians want their 15 minutes of fame and they're willing to do it off the backs of our law enforcement," DHS assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin said on Fox News on Friday morning.
- "The violent targeting of law enforcement in Illinois by lawless rioters is despicable and Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson must call for it to end," McLaughlin later said in a press release. "The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect the people of Illinois and all Americans."
Zoom in: Biss says ICE agents and other federal law enforcement wearing military fatigues have been using "intimidation" tactics like positioning snipers on the building and taking photos of the protesters.
- "It was a very clear, cartoonish show of force and brutality and dominance," Biss tells Axios. "They didn't need to tear gas us. They were doing it to demonstrate that there is no room for dissent in this country right now. They're trying to scare people out of standing up, and we're not going to be intimidated."
Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson also excoriated Biss, claiming he is creating unneeded chaos.
- "Broadview would be better served by the presence of Evanston police officers helping to bolster our small force to protect demonstrators rather than a candidate creating Instagram videos and giving media interviews boosting his campaign," she said in a statement.
Biss, who is one of many vying to replace outgoing Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, isn't fazed by the criticism.
- "I think what they need to worry about is the chaos of people being ripped away from their children," Biss said. "I think that all of us have a responsibility to do what we can to put a stop to it. And I would invite the mayor of Broadview to join me."
Zoom out: The protests come as ICE raids have ramped up in the area. DHS says they've arrested over 550 people since "Operation Midway Blitz" began.
Editor's note: This story was updated with new comments from the Department of Homeland Security and the latest from protests Friday night.