WASHINGTON — Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons sent a letter responding to Broadview Mayor Katrina R. Thompson's letter sent to ICE’s Chicago field office director Sept. 26. The mayor's letter made outlandish accusations, including of “making war” on the community of Broadview. 

  • “Unfortunately, the Broadview Processing Center continues to face violence and unlawful activity by rioters. The relentless actions of these individuals — and their attempts to obstruct the enforcement of federal law — are unacceptable.”
  • “We have repeatedly requested assistance from state and local law enforcement, including your own police department, to disperse these unlawful assemblies. Instead, local inaction has enabled agitators to escalate violence and placed federal officers, first responders, and Broadview residents in harm’s way.”
  • “Failure to help provide relief makes you a party to the obstruction of justice. There will be no change in our operational posture until these unlawful activities cease. The only siege in Broadview is the one being waged against the United States government.”

There is no place for fearmongering, misinformation, or misplaced blame, which erodes public trust and may very well incite even more violence against the men and women of ICE.

Mayor Thompson is distorting reality, pointing her finger in the wrong direction, while our officers are protecting her community — and others — from real threats, while also facing skyrocketing violence against them, including at the Broadview facility. In the past week alone, violent rioters have been arrested for assault and obstruction, and three of them were carrying loaded firearms to protest.