A professor at Northeastern Illinois University was arrested after allegedly bringing a loaded handgun and extra ammunition to a protest outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, 51-year-old Elias Cepeda was taken into custody on September 26 after officers discovered a loaded firearm and three additional rounds in his possession during the demonstration. Authorities say Cepeda, who teaches English at the university, was attending the protest against federal immigration enforcement.
Federal officials described the incident as serious, noting that bringing a weapon to an ICE facility creates unnecessary danger for law enforcement and the public. “Violent individuals like Cepeda are putting the public and our officers’ lives in danger,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Court documents indicate that Cepeda has expressed support for Antifa on social media, including posting inflammatory comments about ICE agents. Northeastern Illinois University confirmed that he is a faculty member and said it is cooperating with law enforcement while reviewing the situation internally.
Cepeda faces federal charges related to unlawful possession of a firearm at a federal facility. His arrest comes amid heightened tensions around immigration enforcement and protests targeting ICE offices nationwide.
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