37 Arrested For Disobedience Acts At Chicago's ICE Facility

Luis V. Gutierrez and Elvira Arellano

Immigration reform rally, march and protest ends with 37 arrests at Chicago's ICE facility.

By H. Nelson Goodson

March 27, 2014

Chicago, Illinois - On Thursday, at least 37 people were taken into custody for acts of civil disobedience at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Headquarters, 101 Congress Blvd. An estimated 250 gathered at the downtown Federal Plaza for a rally and then peacefully marched to the ICE facility where 37 people blocked the main entrance, were arrested and cited by police. 

U.S. Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D) and Elvira Arellano were not arrested with the group, but joined the impromptu protest to bring attention to the massive deportations by the Obama administration. More than 2.1M undocumented immigrants have been deported, since 2009.

Gutierrez and Arellano want the U.S. House GOP to take action and vote on immigration reform. The protesters want President Barack H. Obama to use his executive authority to stop deportations and extend deferred action for the parents of DREAMers. 

The impromptu march and protest was organized by multiple organizations.