Alex Harrison

I can personally attest to witnessing a group of federal agents and plainclothes people (unknown affiliation) enter this building on Friday morning. Seemed sketchy then, and this would appear to explain what they were up to.

NIPAS using masks/not having ID numbers isn't even new, they did the exact same thing when they came to Evanston 5 yrs ago to contain NU police abolition protests. I have old FOIAs showing NIPAS was *very* concerned abt being ID'd, despite being, yknow, cops. That's who's in Broadview now.

For clarity — the officers shown in the referenced photo by Paris Schutz are muni cops with the NIPAS Mobile Field Force, which wasn't in the Unified Command's initial presser and only showed up partway thru. They appear to have swapped in for ISP though... so, are they part of the UC? Who knows!

Anyway if anyone has any questions about this group, feel free to ask -- I am *very* familiar with them

Time and time and time again, my origin story in investigative journalism -- reporting on this specific organization and its specific Mobile Field Force showing up to NU student protests in fall 2020 -- keeps coming back to haunt me lolololol

I'm gonna lose my mind

A protester with a mobility aid (cane) was sitting in the road. Illinois state troopers dragged them to the grass and arrested them.

(*8-0, 7th Ward Ald. Davis had to leave earlier in the evening)

In relatively quick news out of a very long meeting, Evanston's City Council just unanimously* overrode Mayor Daniel Biss' veto of the 1% grocery tax. Evanston will join many other suburban neighbors in keeping the tax, which is currently administered by the state but will be phased out at EOY.

meme of kylian mbappe saying "i will be there no matter what"

back of alex's head when there's an evanston city council meeting

Update x6: “ISP has reached out to the Broadview Police Department to offer assistance in the investigation of recent events” capitolfax.com/2025/09/27/m...

Confirmed Mexican Consul General in Chicago Reyna Torres Mendivil is here, and of her staff members is holding up a sign that says “Consulado de Mexico” as a volley of pepper balls comes out of the parking lot at protesters against the fence there.

Agent back on the roof with pepper ball gun.

I’m out, I'm sore. I'll have more later, but right now I have to say a couple of things. First, walking out of there to learn about the kindness, support, and quick action from so many of you all has meant the world to me, my wife, and co-founder, Raven. Thank you.

Hearing 3-4 protesters remain in federal custody. It's unclear right now if they'll be out tonight or later.

In a not at all shocking move, most released appeared to be white cis men, some women and men of color reportedly still in custody.

We have to call it for now. Will provide update in AM

Seven people were just released, greeted with cheers and hugs.

@peoplesfabric.com is free.

via @unraveledpress.com, Steve Held has been released.

The @chicago.suntimes.com has finally fixed the language in this to give Steve his proper due as a fellow journalist.

In moments like this, let’s remember which Chicago newsroom stood up for the freedom of press

Steve (@peoplesfabric.com), @unraveledpress.com, @thetriibe.com (and others with them) have been doing some of the most phenomenal coverage of ICE ops/protests in Chicago.

They’ve had a journalist shot in the face w/ pepper balls and another detained for it.

Journalism is not a crime. Free Steve.

"a Chicago man who describes himself as an independent journalist,"

I'm sorry, what?

free @peoplesfabric.com

Broadview officials say ICE agents warned that mayor's comments would have consequences Village officials said Saturday that federal agents warned Broadview police there would be “a s--- show” in Broadview in response to Mayor Katrina Thompson's comments that ICE is “making war on my com...

Officials said that federal agents warned Broadview police there would be “a s--- show” tonight in response to the Mayor’s comment that ICE is “making war on my community.

Activists and journalists on the ground have been posting video of what it looks like.

chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/09...

This seems to be an accurate estimate of number of people taken by feds but consider it unconfirmed for now:

Federal agents standing in the street, silhouetted against lights.

Federal agents standing in the street, silhouetted against lights.

A few groups of stragglers are still hanging around - I can hear shouts and what sounds like pepper balls firing somewhere in the dark - but the crowd has been pretty effectively dispersed. Federal agents have posted up about a block north of the actual facility.

More video of that assault:

Another big assault by the federal agents. Tear gas, flash bangs, I don't know what else. People panic, scatter. Pushed all the way back to the highway. I can hear calls for medics.

Suddenly: tremendous amount of gas and pepper balls fill the road. People running, canisters exploding.

Per witness, Steve was filming an arrest when feds knocked a group of people backwards and grabbed him. She says it appeared targeted to her since he had been filming CBP interaction with the protester from start to finish.

Chaos again, feds tackling protesters at random.

They just detained @peoplesfabric.com.