CHICAGO — Tensions rose over Father’s Day weekend as nearly 200 people, including undocumented immigrants, families, and people under immigration supervision, were unexpectedly ordered to appear at the former ICE processing center in Broadview, Illinois.
The directive came through sudden text messages and emails, instructing recipients to check in at the Chicago Field Office at 1930 Beach Street between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on June 14 or 15. The messages warned that failure to comply would result in “violations and the possibility of deportation.”
Sudden Detentions Spark Community Fear
Two individuals were detained after showing up, with one having known about an existing order of removal, while the other appeared unaware of their legal status update. The detentions immediately intensified fears within Chicago’s immigrant communities, especially after the June 4 ICE sweep in the South Loop that resulted in a dozen arrests and standoffs with activists and community leaders.
Most who complied with the Broadview request were fitted with ankle monitors and handed conditions such as weekly check-ins and travel restrictions, according to details reported by FOX 32 Chicago.
Mixed Status Families Targeted
Among those summoned were vulnerable individuals — including a pregnant woman and parents of a two-year-old child with cerebral palsy. Many recipients had either active immigration cases or were under supervised release but had no prior warning of the check-in request.
Lyneshka Cruz Laureano, a local immigration attorney, stood by those affected, calling the notices “confusing and unjustified.” Legal advocates believe the messaging resembled intimidation tactics, particularly in the wake of recent escalated immigration enforcement under federal scrutiny.
Legal Aid and Calls for Accountability
The chaos prompted a nationwide response from immigration attorneys, many offering pro bono representation. Attorneys and activists are demanding transparency over who issued the orders, how contact details were obtained, and whether due process is being followed.
The National Immigration Justice Center is actively offering resources and guidance to those affected. They can be reached at 312-660-1370 or through immigrantjustice.org.
Community Leaders Raise Alarm
Immigrant rights groups across Chicago are now calling for oversight and legislative inquiry into what appears to be a pattern of surprise ICE operations — triggering fear and disruption in communities already on edge.
Advocates argue that even those trying to comply with court orders or immigration procedures are now facing arbitrary enforcement. One organizer emphasized, “This is not about security. This is about intimidation.”
Join the conversation in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com and share your views on how the city should respond.
