Four people are facing federal charges stemming from weekend protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in suburban Broadview that’s become a flashpoint for the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown.
One of those charged, Paul Ivery, allegedly told an agent “I’ll (expletive) kill you right now” before attempting to evade arrest by jumping onto a car, according to a criminal complaint made public Monday.
Also arrested were a husband and wife, Ray Collins and Jocelyne Robledo, who each allegedly had loaded guns with them as they scuffled with officers who were trying to widen a security perimeter, another complaint alleged.
The fourth person charged, Hubert Mazur, also allegedly fought with officers who were trying to push the crowd back, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.
All of the charges stem from the same incident Saturday evening outside the facility in Broadview that saw agents deploy tear gas and other weapons on protesters. Federal officials said that a total of 11 people were taken into custody, including a journalist.
Protesters have held near-daily demonstrations at the ICE facility since DHS announced earlier this month it was launching “Operation Midway Blitz” to ramp up enforcement actions targeting immigrants lacking permanent legal status.
On both Friday and Saturday, federal agents fired tear gas and baton rounds at protesters, continuing a trend of events that have become increasingly physical between officials and demonstrators. The charges also came a day after ICE and Border Patrol agents made a show of force downtown.
Tensions have also risen between Broadview officials and ICE. Within the last week, federal officials denied reports that ICE was planning to vacate the two-story brick building and instead installed fencing that blocks part of the road outside of the facility. While DHS has argued the fence is for public safety, village officials have said it was “illegally built” because it was installed without a permit and that the fencing prevents emergency personnel from accessing parts of the suburb.
According to the charges filed over the weekend, Ivery had joined the protests Saturday night and was about six inches from a Customs and Border Patrol officer’s face when he made threats to kill him. The officer chased and tackled Ivery to the ground, and in the ensuing scuffle, the officer’s helmet became “askew, thereby temporarily exposing him to pepper spray in the vicinity,” the complaint alleged.
Ivery later told investigators he came to Broadview to protest because he was disappointed that ICE agents “were disrespectful towards the Broadview Police Department and veterans,” the complaint alleged.
The complaint against Robledo and Collins, meanwhile, alleged they both pushed back against agents who “were attempting to extend the perimeter.” During the struggle, agents observed a loaded GForce Arms 9mm semiautomatic pistol in Robledo’s waistband. Collins yelled at the agents to get away from his wife and “charged toward the agents,” injuring one in the ensuing scuffle, the complaint alleged.
“After agents managed to restrain Collins and place him under arrest, they discovered that he too was carrying a firearm in his waistband,” the complaint alleged. The gun was a a loaded Century Arms 9mm semiautomatic pistol, the charges alleged.
DHS later posted photos of the firearms on social media.
Lawyers for the four defendants were not listed on the court docket Monday. Court information was not immediately available.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com