On November 13, our Upper School had a Civic Lab fieldwork day, and I had the privilege of being able to visit the ICE Processing Facility in Broadview. Accompanied by Ms. Ifft and Mr. Greenstone, I talked to many different people and got different perspectives on what was happening there. This trip was completely optional, and I chose to go to learn more about many different people’s opinions, no matter who they are. In this current political climate, I think it’s very important we get the full picture and as much information as we can get for issues affecting our country. Knowing both sides of an issue helps us understand the issue better in any situation. During my trip, there were a handful of reporters, journalists, and news anchors who were also there to provide the full story to the rest of our city.
The first thing I noticed when stepping out of the bus was the designated protest areas. On each side of the street, barricades marked protest areas. The left protest area was for actual protesters, and the right was for confirmed media personnel only. If anyone stepped into the street, they would be arrested immediately. Between these two barricaded areas was a line of media and news anchors with cameras set up to capture anything that might happen. The protest areas were a good distance away from the facility, which was a recent change. Before, the areas were up to the door of the facility which caused more violent reactions to and from protestors. Now, four Broadview police cars sit between the protesters and the facility, with police officers inside regulating the area. We saw unmarked cars come out of the facility and drive off in the opposite direction of the protest areas.
As we explored the protest area, we got the chance to speak to and ask questions of Broadview Chief of Police, Thomas Mills. When asked about what he’s doing about the issue, Mills claimed that, “They (ICE) are just doing their job. I can’t directly do anything because they are a federal organization and or building.” During our conversation, a livestreamer known as Jakenews4800 on social media came up to Chief Mills, pressuring him with questions, and mentioned how Broadview police arrested him for jaywalking when he didn’t do anything wrong. While asking these questions Mills ignored him and refused to answer, making the livesteamer even more upset. After our conversation, we spoke with Jake who claimed that Chief Mills was a “bad person” and that his police officers aren’t doing anything to help. He also refused to share his instagram handle and said that kids shouldn’t be visiting the facility at all.
Later, we came across a protester who came with signs, pictures, and proof. He claimed that the Broadview police officers outside the facility are “with ICE” and showed us photos of the police officers bringing out zip ties, which he claimed were used for tying people up for no reason. When we tried to talk with these police officers, they ignored us. The only time they came out of their cars was when family members or friends dropped off items, usually medication or packages, for loved ones stuck inside the facility. These items always varied but we mainly saw medication and packages. When this happens, the police officers make a call to the facility for permission to let them inside and deliver the item.
During our visit, we had the privilege of talking with lawyer Robert Held. He shared interesting facts and information about the facility and what ICE is doing, like the fact that there are at least 200 people in the facility at all times. Held is currently suing Broadview for limiting the protest hours to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.because he believes that we, as U.S. citizens, have the constitutional right to protest. Being a consistent member of the protesting community at Broadview, he has even been shot with pepperballs when the protesting areas used to be closer to the door of the facility.
When we walked around the area, we saw many different signs. At the beginning of our trip, we met a woman who wrote the entire first amendment on a sign to remind the police officers and ICE officers to remember our rights. We also met a man who had a sign that said, “What would Jesus do?” Throughout the entire protest area, the barricades were covered with messages and drawings used as signs and to taunt ICE. The one thing I saw that really stood out to me was an altar that seemed to be made for a family member that’s inside the facility.
By the end of the fieldwork day, I got to hear many interesting perspectives and learn about how people have been treated outside of the facility as well. Even though we didn’t visit during the busiest time, I still got plenty of opinions and facts that I would not know if I hadn’t spent my time there. As we left the protest area and passed the signs, the barricades, the news cameras, and the altar, I heard a protester call out: “Change the world for us!”
