What's happening in Broadview is not normal
Years ago, I stood outside the ICE detention facility in Broadview on quiet Friday mornings with the Sisters of Mercy and other faith leaders. Together, we prayed, sang, and bore witness as vans carried people away.
Those vigils were somber, but they were peaceful. They were rooted in love—a way of telling every person inside that they were not alone. Faith leaders from every background came together—Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and beyond—to make sure that families had the support and resources they needed, and to remind each other that solidarity was our strongest act of resistance.
Today, that same space feels almost unrecognizable.
The windows are boarded up so no one can see inside. Snipers stand on the roof. Journalists have been tear-gassed. Protesters—peaceful, unarmed—are being thrown to the ground, hit by cars, and shot at with rubber bullets. ICE agents in unmarked vehicles drive past with guns drawn.
This is not normal. This is our own government weaponizing itself against its people.
And if that wasn’t enough, ICE has erected an illegal fence around the perimeter of the building—blocking ambulances and cutting off access to nearby businesses. Even the Village of Broadview is demanding it come down.
When I think back to those early mornings with the Sisters of Mercy, I remember what they taught me: when you see injustice, you don’t look away. You show up. You stand with people who are hurting. And you fight for a better world—one grounded in dignity and compassion.
So if you or someone you know is ever approached by ICE, please remember your rights:
You have the right to remain silent.
You do not have to open the door without a warrant signed by a judge.
You have the right to speak to a lawyer.
You do not have to sign anything ICE puts in front of you.
ICIRR Family Support Hotline: 855-HELP-MY-FAMILY
Illinois stands up for our neighbors. We reject ICE terrorizing our communities.
And if you’re looking for a way to help, Increase the Peace is doing powerful organizing on the Southwest Side to build safety, solidarity, and hope. Please take a minute to support their efforts or sign up to volunteer:
These are horrifying times, but they are not hopeless ones. The only way we win is together.