Overview

• Elias Cepeda, a Northeastern Illinois University faculty member, was arrested on Sept. 26 outside the ICE facility in Broadview, where agents say they recovered a loaded handgun and multiple magazines.
• DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin alleged suspected ties to Antifa and a history of glorifying violence against law enforcement in a public statement.
• Reports of Cepeda’s social media activity include calling ICE agents Nazis and writing that people would be justified in taking agents’ heads off with weed whackers.
• Cepeda’s mother told ABC7 he has a legal concealed-carry permit and said he did not intend to use the weapon at the protest.
• It remains uncertain whether prosecutors will file charges, and recent reporting notes a grand jury declined to indict two others arrested with weapons at the same site; the university did not respond to requests for comment.