Stop Broadview From Restricting ICE Protest Rights
Stop Broadview From Restricting ICE Protest Rights
The Issue
In Broadview, Illinois, where thousands have gathered for months to protest the treatment of immigrants at a suburban ICE processing facility, the mayor just took a dramatic step to silence dissent.
On October 6, Mayor Katrina Thompson signed an executive order limiting protests outside the ICE facility to just nine hours a day — from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The new rule affects not just the area directly outside the facility, but also a nearby public gathering space where families, faith leaders, and immigration advocates have long held vigils and demonstrations.
This order comes after weeks of escalating tension between protesters and federal agents. Multiple witnesses have reported the use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and aggressive crowd control tactics by ICE personnel. A federal lawsuit was filed last week by protesters and journalists who say their First Amendment rights were violated by “extreme brutality.”
Now, instead of addressing these serious allegations or investigating federal overreach, local officials are placing restrictions on the very people trying to speak out.
Mayor Thompson says the curfew is about protecting local residents and businesses. But Broadview officials have also filed suit to remove a federal security fence they say was put up illegally — proving that even local leaders know the root of the problem lies with ICE’s aggressive presence in their town.
Peaceful protest is not just a right — it’s a necessary tool when the government deploys violence against civilians. Limiting the hours people can speak out sends a dangerous message: that public order matters more than constitutional rights.
We call on Mayor Katrina Thompson to rescind the protest restrictions immediately. We urge Broadview’s Board of Trustees and local civil liberties groups to intervene and protect the right to protest outside the ICE facility — without curfews, cages, or crackdowns.
If we allow protest to be confined to business hours, what kind of democracy are we defending?
[Photo Credit: Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times]
50
The Issue
In Broadview, Illinois, where thousands have gathered for months to protest the treatment of immigrants at a suburban ICE processing facility, the mayor just took a dramatic step to silence dissent.
On October 6, Mayor Katrina Thompson signed an executive order limiting protests outside the ICE facility to just nine hours a day — from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The new rule affects not just the area directly outside the facility, but also a nearby public gathering space where families, faith leaders, and immigration advocates have long held vigils and demonstrations.
This order comes after weeks of escalating tension between protesters and federal agents. Multiple witnesses have reported the use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and aggressive crowd control tactics by ICE personnel. A federal lawsuit was filed last week by protesters and journalists who say their First Amendment rights were violated by “extreme brutality.”
Now, instead of addressing these serious allegations or investigating federal overreach, local officials are placing restrictions on the very people trying to speak out.
Mayor Thompson says the curfew is about protecting local residents and businesses. But Broadview officials have also filed suit to remove a federal security fence they say was put up illegally — proving that even local leaders know the root of the problem lies with ICE’s aggressive presence in their town.
Peaceful protest is not just a right — it’s a necessary tool when the government deploys violence against civilians. Limiting the hours people can speak out sends a dangerous message: that public order matters more than constitutional rights.
We call on Mayor Katrina Thompson to rescind the protest restrictions immediately. We urge Broadview’s Board of Trustees and local civil liberties groups to intervene and protect the right to protest outside the ICE facility — without curfews, cages, or crackdowns.
If we allow protest to be confined to business hours, what kind of democracy are we defending?
[Photo Credit: Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times]
50
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on October 7, 2025