CHICAGO – News reports from several outlets and online posts, including video, make clear that federal officers are using increasingly aggressive tactics in response to protestors at the ICE processing center in Broadview. These tactics include physically shoving and firing projectiles at protestors – even when they appear to be trying to move back or are lying on the ground.
In response to these developments, the ACLU of Illinois issued the following statement:
Like millions of Americans, the protestors gathering at the Broadview ICE processing center oppose the Trump Administration’s reckless and ruthless immigration enforcement policies. Those protestors – like everyone in our country – have the right to express themselves about government policy. Federal officers should not respond to First Amendment activity with physical force and the firing of projectiles.
We saw federal officers target and attack protestors and journalists in Los Angeles. The ACLU will protect First Amendment activity from being attacked using excessive force.