DOJ drops tainted case against ICE protesters

The case was dropped amid apparent misconduct by prosecutors

Protesters at the Broadview ICE facility on Sept. 19, 2025, in Broadview, Illinois
Protesters at the Broadview ICE facility on Sept. 19, 2025, in Broadview, Illinois
(Image credit: Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune / Tribune News Service / Getty Images)

What happened

A federal judge in Chicago on Thursday permanently dropped all charges against the four remaining “Broadview Six” anti-ICE demonstrators. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros requested the controversial, high-profile case be dismissed after a “stunning hearing that revealed apparent misconduct” by his office’s prosecutors, the Chicago Sun-Times said. The “rare federal trial for misdemeanor charges” had been slated to start next week, CBS News said.

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Rafi Schwartz, The Week US

Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.