ICE Chicago Operation Midway Blitz: Chaplain calls for calm outside Broadview ICE facility amid protests
About a dozen protesters remained outside the ICE facility in Broadview Monday.
One chaplain ABC7 spoke to says she believes some protesters are doing more harm than good as families try to get information about loved ones who are detained.
Early Monday morning, multiple vans could be seen coming in and out the Broadview Processing Center, as approximately a dozen protesters stood outside the facility.
This comes after days of clashes between demonstrators and federal agents.
One protester who did not want to be on camera said he's concerned about the tactics ICE is using during Operation Midway Blitz, which the Trump administration says is targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal offenses.
READ MORE | Arrests made as protesters clash with ICE at Broadview facility, DHS says
"This is really bad," the protester said. "I am worried that our country is on a very slippery slope right now. I am doing whatever I can to slow down the bleeding,"
However, Ana Nikolic, with the International Chaplain Alliance, believes that some protesters are making it more difficult for families to get information from the Broadview Processing Center.
She said she's been there every day since Wednesday, trying to get an update on the status of someone who was detained for a family she's helping.
She was outside the facility on Friday when protesters blocked the entrance of the driveway and white smoke and pepper bullets were deployed to disperse the crowd.
"The big challenge with protesters attacking ICE is that they have closed the doors lawyers, closed the doors for families, closed the doors for ministers, for chaplains like me," Nikolic said. "Because if you're behind me, they are not going open the door....so when they see you're not with them, of course they will open the door and help you as much as they can."
Meanwhile, confusion remains about the future of the ICE facility in Broadview.
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One source confirmed to the ABC7 I-team that DHS is looking to possibly stop using the Broadview facility and move to another location.
The Department of Homeland Security says in a statement, "Any allegations that ICE Broadview Processing Center is temporarily closing is FALSE... Secretary Noem's message to rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE will continue to enforce the law."
The Department of Homeland Security said in the last three days, 16 protesters have been arrested outside the Broadview processing center, including for assaulting law enforcement.
