Federal agents back up into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, after they cleared a path through protesters for vehicles holding detainees to enter and exit the facility on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
Beginning in September, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol Agents entered Chicago and its suburbs with a goal in mind: the Trump administration's "Operation Midway Blitz." Agents scoured the Greater Chicago Area in search of undocumented immigrants. People hid in fear, communities banded together, protesters demonstrated their opinions, faith leaders offered care for all parties and people made life-altering decisions in fear. According to the Department of Homeland Security, hundreds were arrested, many left behind jobs, families and communities. A suburban town named Broadview on the outskirts of Chicago found itself in the center of the operation for the ICE processing facility where detainees were brought and protests erupted. (All work for the Chicago Tribune)
Protesters and activists sit in front of a federal agent’s car to prevent it from entering the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.
A protester, who declined to be named, leads others protestors and activists in a chant at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.
A protester yells “shame” at federal agents during a protest at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
Protesters sit and lie down to block vehicles from entering a gate at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview during a protest on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
Faith in front
In an attempt to serve Holy Communion to detainees and federal agents, Rev. Larry Dowling, right, processes with the Eucharist towards the Immigration and Customs facility in Broadview, Illinois, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, during the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership’s eucharistic procession. The group of eucharistic ministers was turned down from offering pastoral care in the facility.
Mel of Proviso Township, Illinois kneels before the Eucharist as it passed with the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership’s eucharistic procession from St. Eulalia Catholic Church in Maywood to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Broadview, on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. Mel did not march with the procession but kneeled when she saw it make its way toward her.
Rev. Marshall Hatch of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church holds his Bible after being denied entry into the immigration processing facility in Broadview to offer pastoral care for detainees and staff, on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. Faith leaders and participants prayed in front of the doors of the facility.
Rabbi Ike Serotta of Makom Solel Lakeside in Highland Park blows a shofar during a peaceful protest demanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal military leaves Illinois at Great Lakes Naval Station on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. The interfaith protest was organized by Mano a Mano Family Resource Center and other groups.
Attendees pray while Roberto Moreno, pastor at Franklin Park United Methodist Church, led the prayer during a Day of the Dead altar building event for Silverio Villegas González, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, near where he was shot in Franklin Park. Villegas González was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Sept. 12, 2025.
Sandy Roelofs, general manager of New to You Upscale Resale in Broadview, Illinois, delivers blankets to a federal agent at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.
Dark clouds linger after a morning protest the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.
After a morning clashing with protesters, federal agents attempt to keep remaining protesters back so that vehicles can enter and exit the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
A federal agent shoves protester Scott Spear of Chicago's Uptown neighborhood while agents attempted to keep protesters back so that vehicles could enter and exit the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
A protester wipes his eyes after being sprayed with a substance by a federal agent through a fence at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.
Eli Valentina Vaca, 5, with her parents, Milton Javier Otto Manzano, right, and Nancy Guamangate while in custody at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Sept. 27, 2025. Vaca was taken into custody with her parents on Saturday by ICE agents in the parking lot of a shopping center near Chicago and Kedzie avenues. The family had just finished laundry and grocery shopping.
Left: Federal agents drive detainees towards the Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview, Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Right: A federal agent escorts a detainee into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.
A protester gets treated after being sprayed by a federal agent through a fence at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois after being sprayed by a federal agent through the fence on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.
A protester and Iraq veteran flies the American flag upside down during a protest at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.
A detainee is unloaded from a vehicle before being brought into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility by a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent in Broadview, Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.
Bulmara Reza, 18, right, attempts to bring medicine and clothing to her father who was held in the Immigrations and Customs Facility in Broadview, Illinois while her friends Diocelina Caballero, middle, and Jennifer Caballero supported her on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. Reza was able to deliver her father’s prescribed medication after talking to Illinois State Police but she was denied from delivering his clothes.
Community in Chaos
Heidi Rodriguez, 79, of La Grange, Illinois, protests, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, outside of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois. Rodriguez had been protesting for a couple of months in Broadview. After months of protesting and clashing with federal agents and Illinois State Police, the Village of Broadview ordered the protesters take down their tent that held supplies for protesting.
'I will be here until something good happens. This is crazy, it shouldn’t be happening in our country.'
Protesters cheer and blow whistles while cars drive past them during a No Kings protest, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, on Cicero Avenue in Cicero, Illinois. Protesters marched around a nearby neighborhood and ended their march on Cicero Avenue where they continued protesting.
Vivianna Yepez, left, and Karina Frasco, both with United Workers’ Center, check out an alleged Immigrations and Customs Enforcement sighting tip they received while canvassing to businesses about their rights regarding ICE, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, on Commercial Drive in South Chicago. No federal agents were seen.
Hope Center business partner Arcelia Gonzales brings donated groceries to a Harvey, Illinois community member who has been impacted by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement activity and the SNAP shut down, on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Hope Center advocates are currently delivering groceries to those struggling due to SNAP being cut and people that are scared to leave their house out of fear of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
Protesters sing parody Christmas carols about U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem while she participates in the 25th Anniversary Voyage of Chicago’s Christmas Ship, USCGC Mackinaw, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at Polk Brothers Park next to Chicago’s Lake Michigan.
Leaving for love
Adriana Rivera, 44, packs up her remaining clothes while staying at her friends’ house, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. Rivera is moving to Mexico because her husband was detained by federal agents and deported to Michoacán, Mexico. Her husband, Arturo Rodríguez Bellos, had been in the country 25 years and dealt with different health issues.
Adriana Rivera sits among eggs that she usually sells as a street vendor at her friend María Hernández’s home, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. Rivera left her inventory of eggs with Hernández and her husband who promised to sell the eggs and send the money to Rivera in Mexico. Rivera left behind many items including those she sold as a street vendor on 26th Street the same street her husband was detained by federal agents.
Before leaving for the Chicago Midway International Airport, Rivera kisses her friend’s son Matías goodbye in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.
Adriana Rivera grabs her luggage after checking her bags before going through security for her flight to Mexico at Chicago Midway International Airport, on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.
Adriana Rivera hugs her friend María Hernández goodbye and thanks her for all her help before she went through security for her flight to Mexico at Chicago Midway International Airport, on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.
Holiday in Blitz
Steven Gonzalez of West Chicago, dressed as Santa Claus, smiles for a photo with a customer, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, at La Chiquita grocery store in Aurora, Illinois. By day, he is a rapid responder, a person who alerts others about ICE's presence. In the evening, Gonzalez dresses up as Santa Claus for families in need and makes appearances in the west suburbs of Chicago.
Steven Gonzalez of West Chicago, dressed as Santa Claus, hugs his old boss Carlos Macias of Aurora after making an appearance as Santa Claus, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, at La Chiquita grocery store in Aurora, Illinois. Gonzalez visited three stores that night.
Cassandra Echeverria of Aurora, Illinois, a “Follower of Christ”, sheds a tear while praying for detainees and staff that were located inside the immigration processing facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. Local religious leaders and persons gathered on Christmas Eve to offer pastoral care to both detainees and federal agents inside the processing facility. They were denied access.