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The Broadview U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Processing Center is now fully visible to the public following the removal of its surrounding fence.
On Tuesday evening, a flatbed truck loaded with fencing materials arrived at the location, and workers promptly began dismantling the structure.
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The fence was originally erected in response to a series of violent confrontations between federal agents and demonstrators protesting the heightened immigration enforcement measures in the Chicago area.
By Wednesday, a small group of protesters gathered outside the facility, among them Susan Rhode, who chose to express her concerns through prayer.
“I’m relieved to see the fence taken down,” said Rhode, a resident of Forest Park. “It posed a danger. The intensity of emotions and threats from the crowd reflect the fear that many people are experiencing.”
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In court, the village of Broadview argued that the fencing was a safety hazard, especially for first responders.
Wednesday the Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson called the fence removal a win. In a statement she said:
“The law, including municipal law, applies even to the federal government. This is a victory for the rule of law in a country that is still a democracy. And it is a victory for Broadview residents and businesses who depend on their municipal government to assure public safety.”
The Department of Homeland security argued that the fence was meant for protection.
In a statement in part, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin says, “This new ruling seeks to stop us from protecting our ICE Broadview facility, the detainees being processed in it, and our law enforcement officers…DHS extended fencing at the Broadview Processing Center after rioters and sanctuary politicians obstructed law enforcement, threw tear gas cans, rocks, bottles, and fireworks, slashed tires of cars, blocked the entrance of the building, and trespassed on private property.”
“We have been hounding them for weeks now about this fence, and they finally took it down,” protester Levi Rolles said. “It is a step in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go.”
There are still designated protest zones along with protest hours in Broadview.
State police and sheriff deputies also remain outside the facility.
A 57-year-old woman was charged with disorderly conduct outside the facility Tuesday, police said.
