DHS Alleges Illinois Sanctuary Policies Led to Police Refusal During ICE Facility Clashes, 16 Arrested

Chicago, Illinois – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today accused local police in Illinois of refusing to respond to multiple calls for assistance during recent clashes at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Broadview Processing Center in Chicago. The DHS attributed this alleged inaction to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s "sanctuary" policies, claiming that federal agents were assaulted by "rioters and politicians" during the incidents.

According to a DHS statement, the anti-ICE demonstrators threw tear gas cans, rocks, bottles, and fireworks, slashed vehicle tires, and blocked the entrance of the Broadview facility. The agency also confirmed that 16 individuals have been arrested so far for trespassing on private property during the protests. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin questioned the state's priorities, stating, "Why do Gov. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson care more about violent criminal illegal aliens than they do about protecting their own citizens?”

Governor Pritzker's office, however, has vehemently denied the DHS's claims. A spokesperson for Pritzker stated it is "completely false to suggest the state or local municipalities have been obstructing federal officials," emphasizing that the state had not received multiple calls for assistance from the federal government. Pritzker has consistently defended Illinois's sanctuary policies, including the Illinois TRUST Act, which limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities without a criminal warrant.

The DHS highlighted several individuals they claim were being held at the facility during the protests, including "Andres Ventura-Uvaldo, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who was previously arrested for felony DUI and domestic violence." The agency asserted that they "arrest the worst of the worst across Illinois," and that these operations are targeting individuals with significant criminal histories. The ongoing tensions underscore a broader conflict between federal immigration enforcement and Illinois's state-level sanctuary policies, with both sides exchanging accusations regarding public safety and legal adherence.