A federal agent from Border Patrol (left) alongside an Illinois State Police trooper (right). Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

By Dominic Guanzon

Friday, 10/3/25

BROADVIEW, IL, FRIDAY, 10/3/25 — Hundreds of state and local police officers actively participated in crowd control of non-violent protesters, including standing side-by-side with federal agents, at the Broadview ICE Staging Area demonstration.

All morning and into the afternoon, Illinois State Police (ISP), Broadview Police Department (BPD), Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), and the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System’s Mobile Field Force (NIPAS MFF) took part in crowd control efforts against protesters at the Harvard Street and 25th Avenue driveway as part of a “Unified Command” announced the day before.

An Illinois State Police trooper (left) alongside an ICE/HSI agent (right). Right-wing propagandist Benny Johnson greets officers (center, back). Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

According to an ISP press release: “The agencies involved in this operation will neither assist nor obstruct enforcement of federal immigration statutes in compliance with state and federal law.”

However, state and local officers de facto assisted a medley of federal agents, while the latter arrested several non-violent protesters. The federal agencies included Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Independent newsroom Unraveled also reported FBI present.

The night before, concrete barricades were established on Beach Street by the Unified Command, just north of the fence placed by federal officials on 9/23. This established “protest areas” where “people can safely exercise their rights.” However on 10/3, only a scant amount of protesters were on Beach St. There was minimal reported federal vehicle movement there. A 9AM press conference held by local organizers and political candidates denounced the “free speech zone” as redundant and itself constricting.

Protesters wearing helmets, goggles, and respirators check their equipment in anticipation of police violence. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

Instead, a majority of the federal vehicle movement, and therefore protest, was at the intersection of Harvard St and 25th Ave. Just one week ago, protesters along the Harvard St corridor were attacked with tear gas, pepper balls, pepper spray cans, flashbangs, and 40mm baton rounds.

On 9/26, the only local law enforcement present was Broadview PD, who remained about 500 feet away, entirely removed from the federal violence against protesters.

On 10/3 at 7:25AM, however, this changed completely, when about 50 ISP troopers arrived to line the driveway entrance at Harvard St and 25th Ave. The ISP line curved outward at the end to prevent anyone from going west on Harvard St down the long corridor to Beach St. Most troopers wore riot helmets and wielded long, wooden truncheons. Two ISP troopers were in full tactical gear and carrying rifles, likely M4s.

Broadview PD also participated, inserting themselves into the ISP line and filling it out all the way to the east end of the Harvard St and 25th Ave intersection. A pair of Broadview dump trucks were also positioned to act as a direct barricade and line extension, freeing up police manpower for the line.

Illinois State Patrol troopers in riot helmets, holding truncheons, form a line against protesters on the Harvard St driveway. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

An Illinois State Patrol trooper equipped with a rifle, likely an M4. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

Dump trucks from the city of Broadview, extending the police line at the Harvard St driveway and freeing up manpower. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

For the next 90+ minutes, ISP and BPD allowed the free passage of federal vehicles, including one with an agent wielding a 40mm grenade launcher, likely loaded with a baton round, out the window, at low ready.

The protesters numbered at about 200 at peak, and remained overwhelmingly non-violent. No physical acts of aggression were observed, not even against one regular counter-protester embedding themselves in the crowd, trying to goad reactions. Protesters practiced First Amendment rights by waving signs, chanting, shouting insults, singing songs, and playing a variety of instruments including guitars, drums, an accordion, and a trumpet.

Illinois State Police form a corridor, allowing a US Customs and Border Protection pickup truck to drive through. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

A CBP agent waves at protesters while inside a vehicle, as an Illinois State Police trooper forces back a protester with a truncheon. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

In a still from a video, a federal agent wields a 40mm grenade launcher at low ready, likely loaded with a baton round, out the back window of a pickup truck. ISP troopers maintain a police line for the vehicle to get through. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

The anger at local police was visible, however, and verbal outrage at local law enforcement’s actions was consistent. Protesters cited Illinois’ TRUST, VOICES, and Way Forward Acts as clear sanctuary laws that prevent them from collaborating with federal officials in matters of immigration enforcement.

On 9/19, protesters conducted sit-ins directly in front of the ICE facility driveway. The previous week, on 9/26, protesters at the same Harvard St intersection were pushed back hundreds of feet while trying to block a federal vehicle. Neither of these protest actions were possible with ISP’s involvement.

In Unified Command’s 10/2 press release, one of their goals was ensuring “vehicular traffic can safely access the roads in the area,” so that “third parties that need access to the facility – including attorneys and legal representatives, people bringing medicine to detainees, and representatives from foreign consulates – will maintain clear points of access to the facility.”

A protester screams at Illinois State Police troopers for establishing a police line, allowing federal vehicles to move to and from the ICE facility with significantly reduced protest, compared to previous weeks. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

Protesters made ad hoc arguments to ISP, with some pulling out their phones to look up the text of the TRUST and Way Forward Acts.

They essentially claimed, in scattered pleas, the passage being protected was the only way for dozens of federal vehicles to go to and from the ICE facility, which is a direct component of the immigration enforcement pipeline. Therefore, Unified Command’s decision to protect the passage violated the TRUST and Way Forward Acts because Illinois law enforcement assisted federal officials in a matter of immigration enforcement.

“Not a lot of TRUST going on around here,” one protester sarcastically remarked.

Another protester directly screamed into the faces of the ISP troopers, “you’re helping the fascists! You’re directly helping them!”

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul defended Unified Command’s actions in a press release, indirectly rebuking the protester arguments:

“State and local law enforcement do not violate the TRUST Act by establishing and maintaining designated protest areas and ensuring the unobstructed use of public roads – even if federal immigration enforcement activity is occurring nearby.”

Governor Pritzker reiterated this sentiment in a statement of his own, saying, “the Unified Command will prioritize public safety above all else and take steps to safeguard the First Amendment rights of the public.”

An older protester is held up in detention by four ISP troopers. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

A protester that was attempting a sit-in on the Harvard St driveway is hauled to the grass and restrained. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

ISP was personally observed detaining at least three individuals. According to CapitolFax.com, five were arrested as of 10:55AM. In one case, at 7:30AM, a man performing a sit-in like in previous weeks was hauled away. At 9:05AM, an older woman was carried away by four ISP troopers, as the woman showed clear discomfort.

AG Raoul ended his press release with the following:

“I continue to urge people: Do not take the Trump administration’s bait. Do not give them the lawlessness they are actively trying to provoke”

What came next was likely to happen regardless of protesters’ actions, and ISP’s involvement did not safeguard First Amendment rights against federal attack.

9:20AM – A Federal Attack For Social Media, With Local Help

About 50 federal agents from ICE, CBP, ATF, and BOP walk up to the ISP police line. DHS media teams follow closely to collect photos and footage. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

During the early morning crowd control, protesters shouted that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and commander-at-large Gregory Bovino had arrived in one of the passing vehicles. A little later, right-wing propagandist Benny Johnson arrived as well, with several camera operators and media people.

Video from Johnson showed Bovino giving a pep talk to Noem and gathered agents, stating that the “state instruments of hard power” were to be “put into full effect.” He also explained that after only “one warning,” the protest area was going to be a “free arrest zone,” That last part may have been a pun on Unified Command’s “first amendment zone” on Beach St, which itself was a mocking name from protesters.

Noem told agents to “make sure these individuals aren’t allowed to conduct this kind of activity anymore,” in reference to demonstrators practicing First Amendment rights.

At 9:20AM, Bovino led a mixed formation of about 50 federal agents out of the Beach St south gate, and east on the Harvard St corridor. During this 500 foot walk, about a half dozen masked personnel wearing “DHS PAO” (Public Affairs Office) yellow vests were seen capturing footage and photos, likely for social media highlights.

ICE Special Response Team (far left), ATF (center left, center right), and BOP (right) agents replace ISP troopers at the police line. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

When the federal formation reached the Illinois State Police line, ISP moved away systematically to allow federal agents to replace them. According to photojournalist Tom Hudson, Bovino yelled to agents “go get ‘em,” just before they aggressively moved forward, with clear intent to force themselves into non-violent protesters attempting to stand their ground.

Within seconds, multiple federal agents tackled several protesters to the grass lawn, and began making arrests. In one instance, a non-violent protester was dragged across the grass before being restrained and taken away.

Protesters, NLG green hats, and press stayed as close as possible to the violence happening before them. Meanwhile, an ICE Special Response Team (SRT) armored car, likely a Lenco Bearcat, moved forward onto the Harvard St driveway, with a federal agent on overwatch out of the top hatch wielding a pepper ball launcher.

A federal agent in the midst of tackling a non-violent protester attempting to stand their ground. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

A protester screams out their name to NLG observers and press while being arrested by CBP agents. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

A protester is arrested by a CBP agent, while another agent flags a protester with their pepper ball launcher. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

An SRT armored car, likely a Lenco Bearcat, moves onto the Harvard St driveway. A federal agent maintains overwatch out of the top hatch with a pepper ball launcher. A hovering drone follows closely (top left). Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

Bovino was at the very front of the line, issuing direct commands to individual agents and pointing at protesters to arrest.

At least two drones were personally observed flying extremely low, directly above the federal violence taking place. A bigger one flew slightly higher, while a smaller one zipped around very quickly. Because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a temporary flight restriction for drones on 10/1, it is likely these were government drones, with footage likely to be used for sizzle reels and surveillance.

The smaller of at least two drones, likely operated by federal agents due to the temporary flying restriction on drones issued two days prior. It made low, fast sweeps across the federal violence unfolding in the grass. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

As federal agents made arrests, ISP quickly reinserted themselves into the fray, keeping protesters away from the arresting federal agents. This led to a situation where state and federal police stood shoulder-to-shoulder along a single, intermixed line. Over a dozen Illinois State Police troopers stood side-by-side with agents from ICE, CBP, ATF, and BOP. Meanwhile, BPD and CCSO officers maintained an east-facing line at Harvard St and 25h Ave, keeping a large contingent of protesters at a distance.

Approximately five protesters were arrested during the federal aggression, but information was difficult to ascertain in the chaos. No update on their status could be readily found.

No pepper balls, pepper spray, tear gas, flashbangs, or baton rounds were deployed during the attack, despite the presence of pepper ball launchers among federal agents and state troopers. This was a marked difference from the previous two weeks of protesting, potentially because ISP troopers were in close proximity.

At one point while on the mixed federal/state police line, ISP troopers donned gas masks simultaneously. This, in turn, prompted protesters to put on their protective gear. However, federal agents adjacent to ISP did not don their gas masks. This suggests that federal/state coordination, which very much did happen during the 7:30AM vehicle passages and 9:20AM attack, may have been implicit and opportunistic, rather than explicit and pre-planned.

A federal agent from the Bureau of Prisons wielding a pepper ball launcher (center left) stands alongside ISP troopers in gas masks (far left, right). Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

Regardless of the level of coordination, the decision by Unified Command to insert themselves into a weeks-long protest clearly led to this outcome. And despite the lack of chemical weapons and other less-lethals, violence remained high, with federal agents using their full weight for shoves and tackles.

Legal observers from the Chicago branch of the National Lawyers Guild were present and observing in the face of over a hundred law enforcement officers and dozens of separate, fast-moving incidents.

An NLG legal observer collects information from a protester. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

A Christian minister consoles a protester suffering an emotional response to the federal violence. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

A protester with a trumpet plays in the direction of the mixed federal/state police line. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

11:00AM – State, Local Police Keep Protesters At Bay To Construct “Protest Area”

Approximately one dozen NIPAS MFF officers take over the police line from ISP (left), while about 30 more officers march up to the scene (right). Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

Eventually, federal agents removed themselves from the line to head back to the ICE facility, and were systematically replaced by ISP troopers. Protesters also slowly trickled out, dropping to under 50.

State and local police’s presence only grew.

Sometime around 11AM, a large contingent of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System’s (NIPAS) Mobile Field Force arrived, equipped with riot shields, pepper ball launchers, and in full riot gear, to take over line duty.

According to its website, NIPAS is a “joint venture of suburban municipal police departments in the Chicago metropolitan area” that has “grown to include law enforcement agencies of over 100 cities, villages, and towns in five counties.”

Of its two distinct branches, the NIPAS’ Mobile Field Force was established in 1994 as a riot police for “civil disturbances, union conflicts, public demonstrations, and other events involving large or disorderly crowds.”

NIPAS MFF officers came in a variety of gear, including shorts. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

Essentially, it is a collection of suburban police departments who come together as a unified force when called upon by a police commander. The NIPAS MFF’s webpage lists 84 municipalities as part of its “Mobile Field Force Agencies.”

The NIPAS MFF at Broadview began as a dozen officers, until around a half hour later, when a platoon of about 30 more NIPAS MFF arrived, marching in formation up 25th Ave.

Minutes later, about 15 ISP troopers dressed in riot helmets, body armor, shoulder pads, kneepads, and shin guards marched in formation up 25th Ave to join the 50 troopers that were relieved by the NIPAS MFF.

ISP troopers wearing more riot gear than their earlier counterparts. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

CCSO officers on a police line facing eastward at 25th Ave. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

The entirety of 25th Ave between Lexington Street and Roosevelt Road was blocked off by local police by this time. However, over 40 law enforcement vehicles lined both sides of 25th Ave bumper-to-bumper. A majority of cars were from CCSO, but local police vehicles from Oak Brook, Bellwood, River Grove, Hillside, North Riverside, Maywood, and Countryside were personally observed.

A protester showed a photo where dozens more police vehicles were parked at Broadview Missionary Baptist Church, just on the southern side of the block.

An ISP SWAT armored car, likely another Lenco Bearcat, also passed by while driving south on 25th Ave.

Dozens of police vehicles line a shutdown 25th Ave on both sides. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

An ISP SWAT armored car. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

In conjunction with about a dozen CCSO officers still on line duty facing east on 25th Ave, the whole area appeared to be a parade of local law enforcement, all in support of making sure the 30 or so remaining protesters could not demonstrate against federal agents. Instead, protesters demonstrated against the local police.

Despite the lopsided situation, a protester on a megaphone continued to protest loudly at federal agents at the other end of the corridor, screaming, “you assholes have the gall to sit all the way back there after you teargas my sister?!”

A protester uses a megaphone to scream at federal agents over 500 feet away, “you assholes have the gall to sit all the way back there after you teargas my sister?!” Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

Illinois Department of Transportation workers place concrete barricades at the Harvard St driveway, mirroring the construction of a “protest area” at Beach St. Broadview, IL, 10/3/25.

At noon, small cranes and dumpster trucks from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) constructed a “protest area” with concrete barriers, similar to the one constructed at Beach St.

CCSO pickup trucks also deployed a pair of generator posts on both sides of the Harvard St driveway. At the top of both posts was a pair of what appeared to be surveillance cameras, for what may be four total cameras. It is unknown if other electronic equipment sits atop the posts.

Personal observation ended at 3PM, but protests continued into the evening, including at least one use of physical force by a police line.