At least 7 faith leaders arrested at Broadview ICE facility protest (Broadview, Illinois)

The Rev. Michael Woolf, pastor of Lake Street Church of Evanston, Illinois, was among at least seven faith leaders arrested during a protest at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Nov. 14. The protest, part of ongoing demonstrations against “Operation Midway Blitz,” a mass deportation effort launched in September, drew at least 100 participants from various religious traditions.

Footage of Woolf’s arrest shows him being pulled from a group of demonstrators by police officers. After being wrestled to the ground, he was placed in handcuffs, which he later reported caused numbness in his hands. Woolf described the experience as part of a “dehumanizing nature” of the encounter, which he framed as a “spiritual emergency.” He was released after about seven hours in custody.

Woolf, who has been active in protests against immigration enforcement, spoke in his first interview since release. He recounted an incident where an officer told him to “shut the f–k up” when he asked to loosen the handcuffs. The incident drew widespread attention online, with images and videos of the arrest shared widely.

Cook County Police reported 21 arrests at the demonstration, with all but one charged with “Obstruction/Disorderly Conduct/Pedestrian Walking on Highways.” Participants said at least seven of those arrested were faith leaders from Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Unitarian Universalist, and Jewish traditions.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but a post on its X feed on Nov. 14 appeared to mock the protest participants, stating, “Womp womp, cry all y” — a phrase often used to dismiss or belittle emotional responses.

Protests at the Broadview facility have become routine in recent weeks, reflecting growing religious and community opposition to the deportation effort. The demonstration highlighted the intersection of faith and public policy, with participants emphasizing the moral and ethical implications of immigration enforcement.

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