A group of 14 suburban mothers staged a demonstration on Friday, positioning themselves in a circle in the middle of the road outside the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. This act of civil disobedience prompted removal by sheriff’s deputies.

The women, hailing from various western suburbs, united to call for an end to what they describe as a “campaign of chaos,” referring to the Department of Homeland Security’s “Midway Blitz” immigration enforcement operation.

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The protesters expressed outrage over what they perceive as the terrorization of their communities. They claim that friends, relatives, caregivers, and neighbors are living in constant fear as individuals are being uprooted from their families and lives.

These mothers emphasized their intent to leverage their “privilege as white women” to shed light on the issues affecting their neighborhoods and the broader Chicagoland area. They aim to galvanize their community to stand in solidarity with immigrant families.

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“It is worse than you can imagine out on the streets right now, and it is because of the federal immigration enforcement we’re seeing every day. Our communities are living in abject fear, and it’s time for people that look like us to take a stand and put our own physical bodies in front of those bodies, because it is unacceptable,” said Ellen Toobin, who lives in Oak Park.

At the same time, a caravan of about 20 cars has been driving by the intersection of Beech and Lexington outside the Broadview ICE facility. The participants have been honking their horns, with signs posted on their vehicles that say, “hands off Chicago,” also in protest of the ongoing immigration enforcement.

Other groups are holding more protests there on Friday, including a multi-faith prayer service that got underway around 11 a.m.