Federal Judge Rebukes Border Patrol Chief Over Use of Force in Chicago

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis has reprimanded Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino for not complying with a court order that restricts the use of riot-control weapons during immigration enforcement in Chicago. The judge's criticism follows multiple incidents where federal agents deployed tear gas and other crowd-control measures against peaceful protesters and bystanders.

During a recent court hearing, Judge Ellis addressed an event where agents used chemical irritants near a children's Halloween parade in Old Irving Park. She emphasized that children in costumes heading to a parade do not pose a threat to law enforcement officers and stated that riot-control weapons should not be used against them.

The judge highlighted that her previous order prohibited agents from using such weapons unless there was an immediate threat. She noted that the order either wasn't clear, wasn't read, or was deliberately ignored by the agents. Ellis also pointed out reports of agents pushing a woman to the ground and kneeling on her in Little Village as examples of excessive force.

In response, Chief Bovino acknowledged the incidents but stated he needed more information before commenting on the agents' actions. He also mentioned that while most agents have body cameras, distributing them to each agent has been challenging. Judge Ellis insisted that every agent involved in the operation should have a body camera and instructed Bovino to obtain one himself by the end of the week.

The court's scrutiny comes amid ongoing concerns about the conduct of federal agents during "Operation Midway Blitz," an immigration enforcement initiative in Chicago. Reports have surfaced of agents using tear gas and other forceful tactics against residents during or after immigration arrests. The Department of Homeland Security has stated that agents used these measures in response to threats or violent attacks but has provided limited evidence to support these claims.

Judge Ellis has ordered daily reports from Chief Bovino on any incidents that occur during the operation to ensure compliance with the court's directives.