New from the Village of Broadview, Office of the Mayor Broadview, Illinois
30 September 2025
For Immediate Release
Contact:
David Ormsby
312-342-9638
Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson Calls on ICE to Halt Hostile Actions, Demands Removal of Illegal Security Fence
(Broadview, IL)— Village of Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson today issued a demand during a press conference at Village Hall to the U S. Department of Homeland Secuity (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to cease hostile actions against the local community and immediately
dismantle an illegally constructed security fence at the Broadview ICE processing center.
Mayor Thompson stated that the relentless deployment of chemical agents and physical force against
protesters and the surrounding neighborhood is 'making war on my community," and must be stopped.
Mayor Thompson highlighted a pattern of escalating aggression from ICE agents, including the repeated use of tear gas, pepper spray, mace, and rubber bullets against demonstrators exercising their First Amendment rights.
"This extreme response is not only violating the rights of protesters but is actively endangering nearby Broadview residents and hampering the essential work of the village's first responders," said Thompson.
The deployment of chemical agents is directly impacting the health and safety of the Village's public safety personnel. Broadview police officers and firefights have been exposed to the harmful chemicals, forcing some to be taken out of action to recover.
'This unacceptable risk to those sworn to protect the community is a profound failure of the federal
government to be a responsible neighbor," said Thompson. "It also is a moral failure."
The mayor also reiterated the Village's demand for the immediate removal of a security fence constructed by ICE without proper permits. Broadview fire officials have determined that the illegally built fence, which extends the facility's perimeter, critically impedes their access to other buildings within the industrial area Off Of 25th Avenue. This not only violates Village ordinances but creates a genuine public safety hazard that compromises emergency response capabilities.
"The federal government is not above the law, especially When their actions directly threaten the well-being of our residents and the safety of our public servants," Thompson stated, "We demand that ICE immediately dismantle this illegal structure and halt all actions that put our citizens in harm's way. "
Mayor Thompson has advocated for a governing approach based on "love and kindness to achieve Broadview's objectives."
"ICE leadership, including their boss sitting hunkered down at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, should try it. It cannot hurt. It might help," said Thompson. "Love and kindness. It works. Trust me."
The Village of Broadview remains committed to the safety and well-being of all its residents and will continue to press the Department of Homeland Security and ICE for accountability, compliance with local laws, and an end to the current community siege.
About the Village of Broadview: The Village of Broadview is a diverse and thriving community in west-central Cook County, Illinois. Led by Mayor Katrina Thompson, the first African American female mayor in the village's history, the Village is dedicated to public safety, thoughtful economic development, and fostering an inclusive and resilient community where all families feel safe, valued, and empowered.