Federal law enforcement agents used teargas and pepper balls on Friday to disperse a group of about 100 protesters, including two Democratic candidates for Congress, outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Chicago during a series of early morning clashes.

Demonstrators attempted to block government SUVs from entering and exiting the Chicago facility after it had become an operating hub and detention location during an immigration crackdown in the Democratic city dubbed "Operation Midway Blitz."

Masked homeland security agents dressed in riot gear fired pepper balls at protesters from a rooftop and launched multiple canisters of teargas during the scuffles. Three protesters were also arrested in the crackdown.

Congressional candidates join the protests

Kat Abughazaleh, a progressive candidate for Illinois’s ninth congressional district, sat at an entrance to the facility with dozens of other protesters before teargas was launched into the crowd. Earlier that morning, a masked agent had shoved her to the ground as vehicles entered the facility.

Abughazaleh called ICE's actions a violation of the American people's First Amendment rights.

This is what it looks like when ICE violates our First Amendment rights. pic.twitter.com/EneI3BAkPF

— Kat Abughazaleh (@KatAbughazaleh) September 19, 2025

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Illinois’ lieutenant governor, Juliana Stratton, who is a frontrunner in the race for US Senate next year, was also present earlier at the protest, although she had left before law enforcement officers deployed teargas.

Individuals and groups impeding ICE operations are siding with vicious cartels, human traffickers, and violent criminals.

You will not stop @ICEgov and DHS law enforcement from enforcing our immigration laws. https://t.co/GoUq47TC8S

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 19, 2025

“Protesters showed up today with handmade signs and cellphones. They were singing, chanting, praying, and linking arms to stand up for their neighbors and to speak out against the cruelty happening inside Ice’s Broadview facility and across Illinois,” Stratton said in a statement.

She added, “The fact that DHS responded with tear gas and by throwing protesters on the pavement tells you everything you need to know – this isn’t about safety. This is about fear, control, and the Trump administration’s attempt to intimidate Illinoisans into silence. We will never be silent.”

Just now: Woman protesting outside Broadview ICE facility is shot repeatedly with sting balls, thrown to the ground, and ultimately maced point blank in the face as she attempts to block ICE agents from leaving the facility in a vehicle. pic.twitter.com/pOHagtAPw9

— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) September 19, 2025

Bushra Amiwala, another candidate for Illinois’ ninth congressional district, was also present when agents fired teargas and slammed the authorities' use of violence. "There was no justification for using such violence against peaceful demonstrators," she said, adding, "What happened in Broadview today is an affront to our democracy."

Two people arrested

Earlier in the morning, agents arrested a protester after a group swarmed out from the facility to escort a vehicle, with two masked agents dragging them inside after being slammed to the floor and pinned to the ground, having moved what appeared to be a teargas canister that had fallen out of a masked agent’s belt.

Later in the afternoon, as the crowd gradually dispersed, news reporters who remained at the scene observed protesters slashing the tyre of a minivan entering the facility. Reporters also documented another arrest as a group of agents swarmed on a female protester in front of a media scrum.

The demonstration comes as immigration enforcement in Chicago ramped up after Donald Trump’s administration targeted the city in a crackdown that involved Democratic cities. 

The operation has led to almost 550 arrests, according to DHS statistics reported by the Associated Press. Marcos Charles, the acting head of ICE's enforcement and removal operations, told AP, “We’re going to be conducting this operation until we feel that we’ve been successful,” and he added, “There’s not an end date in sight.”