ICE agent drive-by shooting a peaceful protester with a pepper ball on Independence Day.
07/04/2026 Broadview, IL
An ICE agent fired a pepper ball launcher from the vehicle he was driving, striking a protester in the stomach outside the ICE detention facility this afternoon.
A few dozen protesters and community members had gathered in the designated protest area for a weekly demonstration opposing ongoing federal immigration operations across the Chicagoland area. Participants were chanting and holding signs when an unmarked vehicle exited the facility.
An ICE agent then pulled the vehicle alongside the protest area, rolled down the window, fired the pepper ball launcher, and immediately drove away. The protester who was struck received first aid from volunteers at the scene before seeking further treatment at the hospital.
Based on witness accounts, the use of force appeared to be unprovoked. Witnesses said there was no interaction between the targeted protester and the ICE agent before the shot was fired.