CHOOSE LANGUAGE

SELECT LANGUAGE BELOW

Broadview, Illinois declared a civil emergency after bomb threats and violent confrontations with rioters at a local ICE facility

November 19, 2025

Civil Emergency Declared in Broadview, Illinois

Authorities in Broadview, Illinois, have declared a civil emergency due to ongoing unrest connected to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing center located there. This order came into effect on November 17, following a series of incidents, including bomb threats and death threats aimed at city leaders.

Mayor Katrina Thompson’s comments were prompted by a bomb threat directed at Village Hall back in September and a subsequent death threat in October. Tensions have risen with repeated confrontations between protesters and police outside the ICE facility.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that threats have escalated, underscored by an incident on November 15, where protesters from outside Broadview attempted to storm Village Hall, vowing to disrupt a board meeting.

During a protest on Saturday, 21 individuals were arrested, and four police officers sustained injuries as rioters breached security barriers at the ICE center.

A senior DHS official remarked, “For more than a month, insurgents have continued to attack Broadview field officers and the streets of Illinois. They pose a serious threat to public safety and our officers.” The official outlined various aggressive actions taken against law enforcement, such as using vehicles for assaults and blocking building entries.

“Given the injuries to police and these threats, we have had to declare a civil state of emergency,” they added, noting a staggering increase in threats against officers.

The DHS also specified that the Broadview facility serves as a processing center rather than a long-term detention center. Detainees, including serious criminals, are only held temporarily before being moved to designated detention facilities.

The emergency order will stay in place until Mayor Thompson assesses that the threats to village staff have subsided. It grants local officials the ability to transition public meetings online and implement additional security measures without needing board consent.