On Friday, September 19, 2025, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who is also a Democratic candidate for Congress, was among several protesters tear-gassed by federal agents during a demonstration outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois. The protest was in response to "Operation Midway Blitz," an immigration enforcement initiative that has led to over 550 arrests in the Chicago area.
Mayor Biss described the experience as "terrifying," stating that it was "impossible to breathe" and emphasizing that the use of force was intended to intimidate peaceful demonstrators. He condemned the actions as an attempt to suppress dissent and vowed not to be intimidated.
Other Democratic figures present at the protest, including congressional candidates Kat Abughazaleh and Bushra Amiwala, also reported being subjected to physical force. Abughazaleh was thrown to the ground by an agent, while Amiwala criticized the federal response as a "violent abuse of power." Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, who attended earlier in the day, denounced the crackdown as an intimidation tactic.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the actions, accusing protesters of escalating the situation by assaulting officers and damaging property. DHS officials also criticized Illinois officials, including Governor J.B. Pritzker and other Democratic leaders, for not condemning the violence and contributing through inflammatory rhetoric.
The incident has intensified tensions between local Democratic leaders and federal authorities, highlighting the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement practices and the right to protest.
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