This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available. Last updated Sept. 19 at 11:23. 

Congressional candidates Mayor Daniel Biss and Kat Abughazaleh were teargassed at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadway, Illinois on Friday. 

Abughazaleh arrived at the facility at 6 a.m. as part of a “Shut Down the Broadway ICE Facility” protest, according to a post on her Bluesky account. She was thrown to the ground by ICE agents, according to a video on Bluesky at about 7 a.m. 

“They just tear-gassed us,” Abughazaleh wrote in a post. “They tried to run us over in a van holding a peaceful protester. They shot us with pepper balls. They dragged another protester into the facility.”

Protestors are planning to be at the facility tonight from 6 p.m. onward.

A video posted on Biss’ X page shows protestors linking arms as they are teargassed. In the video, Biss said a van drove into the protestors. 

“Federal forces just tear gassed myself and the other peaceful protestors here at the Broadview ICE facility,” the post reads. “This is a terrifying escalation, but we will not back down.”

By around 11:20 a.m., both candidates were no longer at the facility, but a small crowd of about 35 remained.

The Broadview facility has seen demonstrations regularly amid ICE’s Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration crackdown targeting undocumented immigrants in the Chicago area.

Both candidates were present at the facility Sept. 12. At the time, Abughazaleh was again thrown to the ground, shown in a video posted to her Bluesky account. 

“Desperate politicians want their 15 minutes of fame, and they’re willing to do it off the backs of our law enforcement. They are putting them at further risk to get on TV, just to get a viral tweet. It’s pretty despicable,” the Department of Homeland Security wrote in a 10:18 a.m. X post, quoting DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. “We will not back down. President Trump and @Sec_Noem will always PROTECT Americans and will step in if sanctuary politicians won’t.” 

Just a week prior, DHS arrested an individual in Evanston, the city said in a statement Sept. 12. Earlier that week, the city announced that federal immigration agents are expected in Evanston in the “coming days.” 

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