US ICE Agents Brutally Attack Protesters in Illinois
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Federal agents in the United States violently suppressed peaceful protests in Illinois, assaulting Democratic congressional candidates and demonstrators who were opposing US President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown.
At an immigration detention facility in Broadview, Illinois, chaos erupted as heavily armed federal agents unleashed tear gas, fired pepper balls, and shoved protesters to the ground.
Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh said she was twice shoved and tear-gassed while participating in a sit-in to block vehicles at the site.
She released footage showing agents throwing her to the ground, leaving her hand injured and her body bruised.
"It was painful, but it could have been worse," she said.
Illinois officials, including Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, have strongly condemned the raids that began in early September.
The US Department of Homeland Security attempted to justify the crackdown, issuing a statement accusing protesters of “assaulting law enforcement” and “trespassing,” while confirming that three demonstrators were arrested.
In Evanston, Illinois, Mayor Daniel Biss—also a congressional candidate—said he was tear-gassed during the protest.
"I was totally unable to breathe and eventually found myself stumbling over on the ground trying to regain my breath," he said.
Volunteer medics treated him at the scene, rinsing his face and guiding his recovery.
A parallel demonstration in New York ended with the arrests of Democratic politicians protesting at another ICE-linked site.
Demonstrators in Chicago carried signs reading “Hands off Chicago,” denouncing Washington’s escalating campaign of intimidation against immigrants and those who stand with them.
