Federal Judge Orders ICE Official to Testify Amid Concerns Over Tear Gas Use in Chicago

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis has ordered Russell Hott, director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Field Office in Chicago, to appear in court on Monday. This directive follows reports that federal agents may have violated a temporary restraining order (TRO) she issued, which restricts the use of tear gas and other riot control weapons against journalists and protesters in Chicago.

Judge Ellis expressed "profound concern" over recent incidents, including one on Chicago's Southeast Side where Border Patrol agents were involved in a vehicle crash during a pursuit. During this event, agents deployed tear gas on a crowd of residents who had gathered at the scene.

In response to these developments, Ellis expanded her TRO to mandate that federal agents equipped with body-worn cameras must activate them during law enforcement activities in Chicago. She emphasized the importance of accountability, stating that the use of body cameras would assist in ensuring compliance with her orders.

The initial TRO was issued after a lawsuit filed by journalists and religious leaders alleged that federal agents had used excessive force against individuals engaged in constitutionally protected activities. The case continues to draw attention to the conduct of federal agents during immigration enforcement operations in Chicago.