National Lawyers Guild Chicago

Want to help ensure that NLG Chicago can continue to organize attorneys to represent people arrested at protests? Make a donation to our chapter at nlgchicago.org/donate

Charges dismissed!

Today, 20 people arrested while protesting ICE at the Broadview Detention Center had their cases dismissed! Huge shout to NLG members Amy Chiang, Madison Heckel, Nadia Woods and Amanda Yarusso for their work on these cases!

These Patches Are Clues to Identifying Immigration Agents We built a guide to patches worn by ICE and CBP to help the public determine which federal agents are in their communities.

Wondering which federal agents are in your community?

This guide from The Intercept explains the different patches worn by ICE and CBP.
theintercept.com/2026/01/28/i...

The powerful tools in ICE’s arsenal to track suspects — and protesters Biometric trackers, cellphone location databases and drones are among the surveillance technologies agents are using in their immigration enforcement campaign.

Federal immigration are newly equipped with an array of state-of-the-art surveillance technologies, thanks to a bill passed last summer that transformed Immigration and Customs Enforcement into the country’s most highly funded law enforcement agency.
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...

To our neighbors:

The last day Alex Pretti was alive was a day of triumph. Minneapolis went on strike. One thousand businesses closed. One hundred faith leaders were arrested in a civil disobedience action. Tens of thousands marched in the streets. It was called the Day of Truth and Freedom.

In October, the U.S. Attorney charged Juan Espinoza Martinez with a bogus charge of offering a bounty to kill Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino.

Earlier this month, he was found not-guilty by a jury! Hear from his attorneys on 2/19 at Grace Place.

Register here: bit.lyBeatBovino

Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you've got to do is call and we'll be there.

For information on how to request NLG Legal Observers, visit our website: nlgchicago.org/programs/

📸: @loveandstrugglephotos

This year, NLG Chicago dispatched legal observers to more than 200 protests and coordinated free representation for more than 160 people arrested at protests!

Read about our year here: nlgchicago.org/2025/12/22/2...

Donate here to help us continue these efforts in 2026: nlgchicago.org/donate

Protesters Keep Getting Arrested At Broadview By State Police Despite Promise To Protect Free Speech About 80 protesters have been arrested at the ICE facility since barricades went up. Protesters and legal observers say the arrests run counter to the state’s stated goals of ensuring public safety an...

"About 80 protesters have been arrested at the ICE facility since barricades went up. Protesters and legal observers say the arrests run counter to the state’s stated goals of ensuring public safety and protesters’ rights."
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/12/p...

Feds Pepper Spray 1-Year-Old In Cicero, Use Tear Gas In Clash With Little Village Neighbors Federal agents were shot at, according to the Department of Homeland Security, while legal observers said agents created a "dangerous and unsafe environment."

“Trump’s federal agents turned what would have been a quiet Saturday afternoon on the Southwest side of Chicago into a dangerous and unsafe environment due to their repeated and unnecessary escalations" National Lawyers Guild Chicago
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/09/f...

Help us continue to support Chicago's social justice movements by donating here: nlgchicago.org/donate

Today, community members across Cook County monitored and protested the Trump administration’s assault on migrant communities. In total, 15 people were arrested by multiple law enforcement agencies.

Read our full statement here: nlgchicago.org/2025/11/08/i...

After issuing statements about civil rights violations and violence by Illinois State Police officers against protesters and NLG Legal Observers, we were invited to meet with the Governor’s Office and ISP.

Here is a report back from that meeting: nlgchicago.org/2025/10/25/r...

Chicago sees heavy ICE presence downtown, National Lawyers Guild monitors activity Dozens of federal immigration agents patrolled Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River over the weekend as the National Lawyers Guild tracked the federal activity and raised constitutional concerns.

For the last several weeks, NLG Chicago has been working around the clock to support people protesting Trump's draconian invasion of Chicago.

Longtime NLG member Brad Thomson was recently interviewed by FOX Chicago about our efforts, watch it here:
www.fox32chicago.com/video/1715542

Help ensure NLG Chicago can continue supporting the movement. Donate here: nlgchicago.org/donate

NLG Chicago Responds to Attacks on Free Speech at the Broadview Detention Center: nlgchicago.org/2025/10/14/n...

Help ensure NLG Chicago can continue supporting the movement! Donate here: nlgchicago.org/donate/

As everyone is aware, many federal agencies are active in Chicago right now. It is as important as ever to Know Your Rights. Call the NLG Chicago Mass Defense Hotline at 872-4-NLG-CHI (872-465-4244).

Help ensure NLG Chicago can continue supporting the movement! Donate here: nlgchicago.org/donate/

NLG Chicago condemns arrests by state and federal authorities at demonstrations outside Broadview ICE detention facility and in Chicago

Help ensure NLG Chicago can continue supporting the movement! Donate here: nlgchicago.org/donate/

NLG Chicago Denounces Continued Violence from Federal Law Enforcement and Attacks on Free Speech and Press in Broadview, Illinois

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, NLG Chicago witnessed alarming and violent attacks on those assembled to protest at the ICE detention facility in Broadview, IL.

Help ensure NLG Chicago can continue supporting the movement! Donate here: nlgchicago.org/donate/

NLG Chicago Denounces Continued Violence by Federal Law Enforcement Against Demonstrators, Legal Observers, and Press

Again this Friday, September 26, 2025, federal agents continued escalating their violent attacks on speech at the Broadview detention center.

Help ensure NLG Chicago can continue supporting the movement! Donate here: nlgchicago.org/donate/

NLG Chicago Denounces Violent Federal Law Enforcement Response to Protest in Broadview, IL (2/2)

NLG Chicago Denounces Violent Federal Law Enforcement Response to Protest in Broadview, IL (1/2)

On Friday, federal agents significantly escalated their attacks on speech and people protesting at the now notorious ICE detention facility in suburban Broadview, IL.

Help ensure NLG Chicago can continue supporting the movement! Donate here: nlgchicago.org/donate/

Today at the Broadview detention facility, federal agents unleashed severe violence on people protesting, and engaged in actions endangering people on the scene. Read NLG Chicago's full statement:

While it's unclear what President Trump has planned, we know Chicago is ready. As always, we're getting organized to protect each other. Save these legal support hotlines!

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