ICE escalates force in Broadview and downtown

Catch up quick: Friday morning, hundreds who protested at the Broadview ICE facility to demand more transparency and better conditions there were tear gassed and pepper sprayed by federal agents.

• Friday morning, Axios observed demonstrators singing, chanting, yelling and allowing ICE vehicles to proceed. Subsequent reports, however, note at least three times demonstrators unsuccessfully tried to block ICE cars.
• Friday afternoon Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson issued a letter decrying ICE's use of tear gas and its effect on local police, firefighters, residents and protesters.
• Saturday morning, Broadview officials said ICE agents verbally threatened to bring a "sh*t show" to the suburb. Saturday night ICE officers emerged from the facility and deployed tear gas, pepper projectiles and rubber bullets against about 75 protesters, journalists and lawyers.
• Sunday afternoon, dozens of armed Border Patrol agents marched through downtown Chicago, apprehending people including, what appeared to be a family in Millennium Park.

What they're saying: "We will not bow to a wannabe dictator," Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said at a Sunday afternoon press conference. "We will not back down. They want us to be silent. We will raise our voices and we will speak out against what's happening."

The other side: In a press statement, ICE officials characterized the Friday protesters as "rioters" who blocked access to one of the facility gates and attempted to illegally trespass on federal property.

• The statement said one protester was "apprehended with a gun," while others arrived with "boxes of fireworks, N-95 masks, gas masks, goggles and knee and elbow protection."
• As for making verbal threats to Broadview law enforcement, ICE officials tell Axios, "We stand by the fact that ICE officers did not. I cannot speak to others who may have been there that are not ICE."

What we're watching: When ICE officials will reschedule a Friday meeting they canceled with the Illinois congressional delegation. The meeting was arranged after delegation members were denied entry to the Broadview facility.