(ILLINOIS) At least seven faith leaders were arrested Friday at the Broadview ICE facility west of Chicago after a prayer protest over harsh immigration enforcement turned into a tense clash with police, leaving four officers injured and a total of 21 demonstrators in custody. The November 14 action, organized by clergy and immigrant-rights groups, targeted “Operation Midway Blitz,” a recent federal sweep that advocates say is tearing families apart across the Midwest.
Morning vigil and purpose of the action
Witnesses said the day began quietly, with dozens of clergy members, lay volunteers, and families gathering outside the detention center for a sunrise vigil. They prayed in English and Spanish, read the names of people recently detained, and stood in silence for migrants who have died while in U.S. custody or during journeys to the border.
Organizers described the event as an act of public mourning and a call for compassion inside immigration jails.
Confrontation at the driveway
Tensions rose mid-morning when a group of clergy, many wearing stoles and clerical collars, moved toward the entrance, saying they wanted to offer communion and pastoral care to people held inside.
- Police and federal personnel had set up metal barricades blocking the facility driveway.
- Organizers said they had repeatedly requested access to detainees in recent weeks and had been denied or faced long delays.
When some protesters attempted to step past the barricades, officers moved in. Video from the scene circulated by local media and on social platforms shows clergy locking arms, kneeling, and singing hymns as officers ordered them to move back. Moments later, several people fall or are pulled to the ground as police drag them away.
“Don’t hurt them” and “We’re peaceful” can be heard as supporters film the confrontation.
Arrests, injuries, and personal accounts
Among those arrested was the Rev. Michael Woolf, who said he was thrown to the pavement and left with bruises on his arms and legs. “We came to pray and to offer communion, and instead we were met with force,” Woolf said in remarks later shared by supporters.
The Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson reported being shoved and pushed as officers tried to clear the driveway. In all, 21 demonstrators were detained and four officers were injured, according to police statements cited by local outlets.
Context: Operation Midway Blitz and faith-based response
The protest formed part of a growing faith-led response to Operation Midway Blitz, an immigration enforcement campaign that has resulted in more than 3,200 arrests in recent weeks, according to organizers.
- ICE says the operation targets people with prior deportation orders or criminal convictions.
- Advocates say fathers, long-term residents, and workers with no violent record are being swept up during early-morning raids at homes and workplaces.
Religious groups and clergy have become more visible at detention centers as federal enforcement efforts expand, according to analysis by VisaVerge.com. The Broadview site serves as a key transfer point for people being moved to long-term detention or deportation flights, and clergy say their presence is a moral witness rather than a political stunt.
Media coverage and public reaction
Local coverage by CBS Chicago, the National Catholic Reporter and international outlets including the Times of India has drawn wider attention to the Broadview arrests.
Video posted on YouTube between November 14 and 15 shows:
- Clergy in vestments
- People holding rosaries
- Banners calling for an end to immigrant detention
- Speakers addressing the crowd in Spanish and promising to stand with families fearing deportation under the new enforcement push
ICE and law enforcement responses
ICE officials did not immediately respond to detailed questions about Friday’s arrests or whether new rules would be set for protests near detention centers. On its public site at ice.gov, the agency says it respects the right to peaceful protest but stresses that people who block entrances or interfere with operations may face arrest.
Local law enforcement agencies involved in Broadview echoed that position, saying officers acted to keep driveways and access roads clear for buses and emergency vehicles.
Human stories and community impacts
Outside the Broadview gates, the human cost of Operation Midway Blitz was made clear by personal testimony:
- One woman described how her husband, a factory worker with two U.S.-born children, was taken during a pre-dawn raid a week earlier.
- Others spoke of teenagers who now sleep with the lights on, afraid agents will return.
- Several families said they had no idea where loved ones were being held until legal aid groups helped them track cases.
Clergy involved in Friday’s action said they were especially concerned about access to spiritual care for people held after recent raids. They called on ICE to:
- Allow chaplains and trusted community leaders to visit detainees more regularly, similar to hospital and prison visitor policies
- Provide faster legal screenings so people with strong family ties, long work histories, or pending petitions can request relief instead of being quickly deported
Legal and political fallout
Illinois officials have not announced any formal review of the incident, but immigrant-rights groups said they will press state and local leaders to examine police tactics.
- Civil liberties lawyers questioned whether officers used excessive force against nonviolent clergy, citing bruises and torn clothing described by those detained.
- Others warned that aggressive responses to peaceful religious protests could inflame tensions and discourage families from seeking help or information during enforcement drives.
Broader goals and next steps
Beyond the immediate arrests, organizers say their larger goal is to push for reforms to U.S. immigration policy, including:
- A wider path to permanent status for long-term residents
- Stronger limits on detention
They argue that large-scale operations like Operation Midway Blitz may produce dramatic arrest numbers but do little to solve labor shortages or modernize the visa system. Instead, families are left traumatized while employers scramble to replace experienced workers.
As court dates, internal reviews, and more protests loom, Broadview’s clergy say they will keep returning, praying, and risking arrest again.
This Article in a Nutshell
On November 14 at Broadview ICE, clergy-led protesters held a sunrise vigil and later moved toward the facility driveway to offer communion, prompting officers to enforce barricades. Police detained 21 demonstrators, including seven faith leaders, and reported four officers injured. The protest targeted Operation Midway Blitz, which organizers say has led to over 3,200 arrests. Religious groups demand greater access to detainees, faster legal screenings, and transparency; local media coverage and legal scrutiny of police tactics followed the incident.
