Fence fuels tensions, confusion at ICE facility
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Protester Leanna Quartuccio protests outside of the new gates of the Broadview ICE facility Tuesday morning. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
Tensions continue to run high at the Broadview ICE detention center, where federal authorities have erected a fence that local officials say is illegal.
The big picture: The need to monitor clashes between protesters and ICE staff is putting a strain on the local police department.
- The fence, which Broadview officials told Axios was built without city permission, is preventing protestors and relatives from getting near the building, while also stopping those who've received notices to check in with ICE from getting inside.
Catch up quick: Last week, clashes between demonstrators and ICE officers at the facility hit a fever pitch with protesters and politicians getting tear-gassed, arrested and hospitalized.
- ICE officials characterized it as rioters attacking law enforcement, while protesters portrayed it as violence and intimidation against those exercising free speech.
- On Sunday morning, Huffington Post reported the facility would be closing, based on internal communications, but ICE officials denied it Sunday night.
Zoom in: Protester Leanna Quartuccio stood outside the fence Tuesday morning holding signs and shouting at ICE officers, calling them cowards and sellouts.
- A man who spoke only Mandarin told Axios through a translation app that he received a notice saying he'd be arrested unless he showed up in Broadview for an appointment.
- No one was currently stationed at the fence to direct people, so he didn't know what to do.
The other side: ICE officials say they erected the fence after "rioters and sanctuary politicians obstructed law enforcement, threw tear gas cans, rocks, bottles, and fireworks, slashed tires of cars, blocked the entrance of the building, and trespassed on private property."
- Yes, but: Protesters say the tear gas canisters they threw were shot at them by ICE.
Friction point: Broadview police chief Thomas Mills tells Axios that the constant need to monitor the facility has put a significant strain on his small 25-person police force.
- Sometimes, he said, he has needed to station more than half the force at the facility "to protect everyone's First Amendment rights," and it's coming at the taxpayers' expense.
What we're watching: If and how protests ramp up again Friday morning, when regular visits by clergy to the facility have drawn larger crowds.