Photojournalist shoved by federal agents at Illinois immigration protest

Independent journalist Zach Hussein was pushed over a guardrail by federal agents while covering protests outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Oct. 3, 2025.

The facility, where detainees are being held and processed ahead of deportation, has drawn escalating protests and federal response since early September, following the Department of Homeland Security’s launch of Operation Midway Blitz.

Hussein told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that on Oct. 3, both Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino were at the facility, along with officers from the Illinois State Police.

“There were a bunch of protesters, probably the most I had seen, a few hundred. It was pretty chill until the Border Patrol rolled out in a convoy with their big BearCat,” he said, referring to the armored vehicle, “and their drones and their own photographers.”

Another photojournalist, Tom Hudson, told the Tracker that federal agents marched out of the facility to meet the crowd. Bovino, in front, warned everyone to leave, but less than 30 seconds later, Hudson said Bovino told his agents, “Go get them.”

The use of force was immediate, Hussein said. “They started pushing people and arresting people. They threatened to gas people.

“The federal agents were going out of their way to be aggressive,” he added. “They were kind of going after everybody, press included.”

Hussein said that in the chaos, he was pushed by Bovino and other agents, ultimately falling over the highway guardrail. He added that, luckily, he was uninjured.

“I was glad to have my helmet on; that would have hurt,” Hussein said. “It was pretty intense.”

ICE did not respond to a request for comment. In an Oct. 6 news release, DHS alleged that officers are facing “a nearly 1000% increase in assaults.”

“We remind members of the media to exercise caution as they cover these violent riots and remind journalists that covering unlawful activities in the field does come with risks — though our officers take every reasonable precaution to mitigate those dangers to those exercising protected First Amendment rights,” it said.

Bovino posted a video package of the Oct. 3 protest response on the social platform X on Oct. 13, set to the Soundridemusic song “Adrenaline.”

“Interfering with our agents or operations will lead to consequences,” Bovino wrote. “We support the right to protest, but public and agent safety is non-negotiable. Zero tolerance.”