Previously, Broadview—a village home to 8,000 residents and spanning just over two miles—remained largely unnoticed. Its tranquil streets, where some locals claim they don’t even bother locking their car doors, have attracted a diverse mix of middle- and working-class families, encompassing Hispanic, Black, and white communities. However, following the launch of Operation Midway Blitz by the Department of Homeland Security, a sweeping series of immigration arrests mandated by President Donald Trump, this once-quiet suburb of Chicago has become the epicenter of fervent resistance.

In recent weeks, Broadview has witnessed visits from significant figures such as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, and the state’s Democratic U.S. Senators, Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth. Additionally, numerous congressional candidates have flocked to the area, including one who alleged she was forcefully tackled by an ICE agent.

The atmosphere over Broadview is charged, with helicopters continuously buzzing overhead while protests frequently disrupt traffic on main roads. The influx of outsiders has led to congested street parking, with vehicles left unattended throughout the day. As people tend to their lawns or work on their cars, they are accompanied by the echoes of protestors using bullhorns. Violent encounters have resulted in tear gas clouds, causing families with children to seek refuge indoors, sometimes even several blocks away. Just over a week ago, protesters managed to obstruct a nearby expressway.

In response, Mayor Katrina Thompson issued an executive directive limiting protest activities to between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

“It’s a disruption to our daily lives. We deserve a quality of life, and this is our quality of life,” Thompson explained to NBC News. “Our community needs peace after a long day’s work. They deserve to rest at night. We have families with children who have developmental disabilities. The emotional toll from the constant helicopter noise and the glaring lights from our emergency teams—be it fire or police—is significant.”

Thompson said the ICE facility, which was intended to operate only as a processing center, has been tucked into the same industrial park area for decades. It was hard to find any resident or business owner who knew it existed before the recent demonstrations.

Thompson placed the blame on federal authorities for the escalating clashes. She said when protesters showed up about a month ago, they were peaceful. First Amendment groups have accused federal authorities of carrying out excessive tactics, including pelting protesters and the media with tear gas and pepper balls. A federal judge in Chicago ruled that federal law enforcement could not employ such tactics unless under serious threat.

Thompson said there was a certain irony in the Trump administration announcing a peace deal with the Middle East even as clashes in his own country have accelerated.

“I heard about the peace position in Gaza — we don’t even have peace in our own nation. The hypocrisy is so evident,” she said. “How do you go and say peace somewhere else, and you can’t say peace in America?”

DHS and ICE did not respond to a request for comment. Skirmishes and arrests persisted this past weekend, leading the mayor to announce on Monday that the village would further limit the designated area for protests.

To Nash, the scene on Friday was not nearly the worst of it. Weekends before, he saw an armored truck patrolling the area, as well as a mass of federal agents.

“It looked like an army. Like an army,” he said.