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Violet Miller

@vimiller.bsky.social

2.3K followers 640 following 430 posts

reporter @chicago.suntimes.com union member @cstguild.bsky.social drummer, fan of massive lizards prev: Daily Herald | she/her 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈 have a tip? DM me for signal

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 4d

A CBP helicopter circling broke the “eerie silence” replacing the block’s usual Sunday sounds: kids playing at a nearby park, neighbors chatting at their fences.

We spoke to more than half a dozen neighbors — all asked not to be ID’d out of fear for their safety.

“I couldn’t sleep last night.”

Woman shot by Border Patrol is charged; Brighton Park residents say feds antagonized the community

Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz are accused of driving their vehicles in a civilian "convoy" that was following federal agents. Brighton Park neighbors question use of tear gas and other ...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 22h

Sens Durbin and Duckworth are demanding answers on the CBP Chicago River excursion, calling it “at best reckless and at worst legally questionable.”

They said sending “armed patrols down the Chicago River — one of the safest locations in the City — lack legitimacy in immigration or border control.”

Duckworth, Durbin demand feds not use Chicago Harbor Lock on river as backdrop for social media videos

In a letter obtained by the Sun-Times, the senators demanded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem refrain from using the Chicago Harbor Lock “as a staging area to...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Reposted by Violet Miller

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

Judge rules federal agents can't deploy chemical irritants at journalists, protesters who don't pose threats

From my colleagues @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10...

Judge rules federal agents can't deploy chemical irritants at journalists, protesters who don't pose threats

The temporary ruling stems from a lawsuit filed this week by news organizations, unions, independent journalists and protesters against the Department of Homeland Security following tense interactions...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Reposted by Violet Miller

Jim Daley @jimdaleywrites.bsky.social · 1d

I'm at the scene where ICE abducted multiple people from Lincoln and Foster this morning.

A WGN producer was among the people taken, allegedly because she was among a group of bystanders who tried to intervene. ICE agents hit this car while making their getaway.

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Reposted by Violet Miller

mariahwoelfel.bsky.social @mariahwoelfel.bsky.social · 1d

During the Sept. 30 military-style raid on a South Shore building, a man heard a knock at his door. It wasn’t an ICE agent, but a mom and girl pleading for help. He let them in and hide under his bed. 🧵

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 1d

A reminder from yesterday’s rulings — this is a temporary order, not a full blown decision.

Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 1d

A Dist Court judge issued a TRO ordering the fed fence in Broadview removed.

Broadview mayor says court spoke “clearly and unequivocally” but that “it remains to be seen if ICE will respect the judge's order and dismantle this hazard immediately, or if they will continue their pattern of defiance."

The following statement can be attributed to Village of Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson:

"This is a validation of local law and, most importantly, a decisive win for public safety. The judge’s decision confirms that the illegal fence constructed by ICE is not only a clear defiance of Broadview’s ordinance but an unacceptable and escalating risk to our Beach Street businesses, their customers, and our first responders. The law of probability dictates that the danger increases daily. The court has spoken clearly and unequivocally. Now, it remains to be seen if ICE will respect the judge's order and dismantle this hazard immediately, or if they will continue their pattern of defiance."

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 1d

When I was seated next to her during a Loyola event at the 2022 MVC tournament, she asked to use my phone to check the scores of teams she thought Loyola might face if they made it to March Madness — even mid pep rally she was determined to scout an entire tournament ahead.

RIP Sister Jean.

Sister Jean, Loyola University hoops chaplain who captured nation's heart during Cinderella run, dies at 106

Sister Jean emanated a certain love and grit that sunk into students on and off the court — and made for great TV.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Reposted by Violet Miller

jael holzman @jael.bsky.social · 1d

SCOOP: The Bureau of Land Management says the largest solar project in Nevada — the Esmeralda 7 mega-farm — has been canceled

The news was quietly dropped via a sudden website update with no public word from any of the companies involved or a statement from the agency

@heatmap.news

Esmeralda 7 Solar Project Has Been Canceled, BLM Says

It would have delivered a gargantuan 6.2 gigawatts of power.

heatmap.news

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Reposted by Violet Miller

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

Notice of appeal has arrived in Illinois v Trump.

The fight over the National Guard is officially headed to the 7th Circuit.

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Reposted by Violet Miller

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

U.S. District Judge April Perry says it comes down to a "credibility determination."

"I simply cannot credit [the Trump administration's] declarations to the extent they contradict state and local law enforcement. … DHS' perception of events are simply unreliable."

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

#BREAKING A federal judge say she will grant "in part" a request by the state of Illinois for a temporary restraining order against the deployment of National Guard troops into the state.

U.S. District Judge April Perry is still ruling and has not outlined the details of her order.

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

Perry: "I'm going to issue an oral ruling."

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 1d

Agent with a backwards badge and black LA Dodgers hat stands on the roof taking video after protesters were moved back.

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 1d

Protesters and media pushed out of the area without incident after one Broadview officer asks people to “please, please, please” move.

I don’t think he knew it was a Sabrina Carpenter reference but I’m choosing to believe so.

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 1d

Broadview PD has arrived and is asking people to leave, giving two minutes to leave. Most folks are voluntarily walking away, about six holdouts. Cops are just chatting with them.

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 1d

About 15 protesters on the barrier and one counter protester with them about five minutes ahead of the curfew. No changes.

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 1d

Back at Broadview where there are at least a dozen broadcast cameras and an enormous amount of crews.

Easily as many members of the media as protesters, if not more.

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Reposted by Violet Miller

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 2d

The other is likely the preliminary hearings in this case, involving the woman shot by Border Patrol last weekend: chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10...

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims agent said, 'Do something b----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney alleged...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Reposted by Violet Miller

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 2d

This lays out the situation in IL so far.

200 federalized National Guard troops in the state as of 3 p.m. on 10/8.

Two requests for protection support: 1. The ICE facility in Broadview, and 2. The Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Friday "due to two high profile cases involving DHS activities."

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 2d

That’s it for tonight — no updates, no sign of the guard.

Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 2d

Update to say no update

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 2d

Another ambulance has pulled into the facility’s lot. A fire truck was behind it in the private lot, but hasn’t pulled onto Beach Street itself.

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 2d

ISP and Broadview cops have almost all but left, same with protesters. Two remain outside the tent area, just across Lexington from the now-empty free speech zone.

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 2d

Last protester holdout moved across Lexington.

The cops are joking with media, some reporters catching up on the Cubs score to give an idea of the tension here.

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 2d

The bus pulled into the facility’s side garage (after lots of trial and error), so couldn’t see who got in or out.

Protesters have largely moved across Lexington, just press and a protester or two with cops on the facility side of Lexington.

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 2d

Press and protesters pushed back to Lexington St. without incident or pushback beyond some verbal disagreement.

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Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 2d

Broadview police issued verbal dispersal warning, say 2 minutes until tickets are issued.

Protesters ask how much the fine is, cop responds “you gotta go to court to find out.”

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