Illinois Republicans propose law putting distance between protesters,
police
[October 02, 2025]
By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Illinois statehouse Republicans are pushing for a
measure to give police conducting official business some distance from
protesters as immigration enforcement ramps up.
Speaking with members of the military at Quantico on Tuesday morning,
President Donald Trump talked about how close protesters are getting to
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, as has been seen in
the village of Broadview, Illinois.
“People are standing, their mouth is this far away from their mouth, and
they're spitting at them, screaming at them,” Trump said.
Trump said “if they spit, we hit.” He also said Illinois "desperately"
needs the military to address public safety.
The village of Broadview told the community of 8,000, that local police
and first responders “did not attack demonstrators.”
“Actions taken during protests were by federal ICE agents, not by our
local officers,” wrote Mayor Katrina Thompson. “I want to emphasize that
while Broadview will always respect and uphold the Illinois Trust Act
and protect your constitutional First Amendment rights, we ask that
demonstrations remain peaceful and that confrontations with federal
agents be avoided.”
The Illinois TRUST Act prohibits local and state law enforcement in
Illinois from cooperating with federal immigration officials enforcing
civil detention orders.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said protesters in
Broadview were chanting “arrest ICE, shoot ICE.” Two individuals were
later arrested and charged this week with illegally possessing firearms.
Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley told a Senate committee Tuesday that
federal officials aren’t getting any cooperation from local officials.
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Security personnel stand on the roof of an ICE facility in
Broadview, Illinois, on Sept. 24, 2025. Photo: Jim Talamonti / The
Center Square
“Just this month, the Department of Homeland Security reported that
police under Governor Pritzker’s sanctuary jurisdiction refused to
answer multiple calls for assistance when violent rioters physically
assaulted federal immigration officers,” Grassley said.
The acting director of ICE sent a letter to the Broadview, Illinois,
mayor saying they can “either continue to be part of the problem or
choose to be part of the solution.”
“These rioters are laying siege and interfering with legitimate law
enforcement operations,” wrote ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons.
“Failure to help provide relief makes you a party to the obstruction
of justice.”
Pritzker said he’s been in talks with law enforcement in Broadview.
“We're in constant and consistent communication with Broadview
police, with the Broadview mayor, offering every bit of assistance,”
Pritzker said after an unrelated event Tuesday. “We are providing
perimeter assistance, through state police. Continual conversation
with the governor's office and the mayor's office.”
State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, proposes House Bill 4142,
setting a 14 foot distance for how close people can get to law
enforcement conducting official activities.
“To allow our law enforcement the space that they need to operate
and protect both the bystanders and the officers themselves,”
Keicher said during a news conference about increased threats
against ICE.
Keicher said he’s received positive feedback from law enforcement
organizations for his bill. The measure has yet to be assigned to a
committee.
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