Protests erupted Friday morning outside the Broadview Immigration Processing Center after a series of coordinated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the Chicago area led to dozens of arrests. Activists and local faith leaders gathered in the pre-dawn hours to block buses carrying detainees, chanting “Let them stay” and holding signs calling for an end to mass deportations.

According to ICE officials, the raids targeted individuals with outstanding removal orders and criminal convictions. Advocacy groups, however, argue that several of those detained had no criminal records and were longtime residents with jobs and families, raising concerns about the impact on local communities.

Several demonstrators described a tense standoff with federal agents. Kat Abughazaleh, a candi

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