BREAKING: The Village of Broadview has just filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over an illegal fence erected outside the immigration facility at 1930 Beach St.. The lawsuit, submitted late Friday, cites urgent public safety concerns following the installation of the 8-foot fence amid ongoing protests against ICE operations in the area.
The facility has become a focal point for anti-ICE demonstrations since the Trump administration launched “Operation Midway Blitz” last month, deploying a surge of federal immigration officers to the Chicago area for raids and arrests. In response to escalating tensions between federal agents and protesters, DHS constructed the fence, which the village claims blocks access to crucial emergency services.
“ICE’s illegally constructed fence on a public street, Beach Street, in the Village of Broadview, is an unacceptable risk,” stated Matt Martin, acting fire chief of Broadview. “The fence is currently blocking access for the Broadview Fire Department to businesses on that road. In case of a fire or other emergency, our fire trucks or ambulances cannot use the street to get to the scene.”
The situation escalated further when village officials, after unsuccessfully urging DHS to remove the fence, filed a request for an emergency temporary restraining order. Martin emphasized, “Every day that fence remains, in defiance of local law, the risk of tragedy increases. That is the law of probability.”
Despite the fence, protests have continued, with reports of federal officers clashing with demonstrators, utilizing rubber bullets and chemical munitions to disperse crowds. The village’s legal action comes in the wake of a narrowly missed meeting on Friday between Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who made an unannounced visit to Village Hall.
Officials revealed that Thompson was out of the office during the visit but rushed to the ICE facility only to find that Noem was unavailable for a meeting. In addition, U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino also visited the Broadview site on the same day, signaling increased federal attention to the ongoing situation.
As this story develops, the village is demanding immediate action from federal authorities. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for local governance and emergency response capabilities amid federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Stay tuned for updates as Broadview officials seek justice in federal court against what they deem a violation of local laws and a risk to public safety.
