A federal judge has mandated that Gregory Bovino, a senior border patrol official overseeing the Trump administration's stringent immigration policies in Chicago, must appear in federal court every weekday. This exceptional order aims to impose greater oversight on the government's militarized raids occurring in the city. The ruling emerged from a brief hearing held on Tuesday morning, where Judge Sara Ellis emphasized the need for accountability in the enforcement of immigration laws.
During the hearing, Judge Ellis made a poignant statement regarding the treatment of children during recent operations, saying, “Kids dressed in Halloween costumes walking to a parade do not pose an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer.” She continued, emphasizing that federal agents should not resort to using riot control weapons against innocent children. This comment followed an alarming incident over the weekend, where federal agents deployed chemical irritants against residents in a neighborhood where children were preparing for a Halloween parade.
The judge's order is part of ongoing efforts to maintain oversight over Bovino and his agents, who have allegedly violated court orders designed to limit their use of force amid a heavily militarized immigration crackdown in Chicago. This initiative, known as “Operation Midway Blitz,” has reportedly resulted in over 3,000 arrests since September. The use of force by federal agents came under scrutiny after media organizations, protestors, and clergy members filed a lawsuit accusing them of “extreme brutality” aimed at silencing both the press and civilians.
Judge Ellis had previously ordered that agents refrain from using tear gas on crowds without first issuing two warnings. However, agents continued to deploy pepper balls, smoke grenades, and tear gas against protestors and local police, prompting her to require agents to wear body cameras. During the recent hearing, she directed Bovino to acquire a body camera and complete training on its usage by Friday, to ensure compliance with the court’s directives.
Bovino, who currently serves as the chief of the border patrol sector in El Centro, California, has become a prominent figure in the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement strategies, which have also extended to cities like Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, agents have faced criticism for their tactics, including smashing car windows and forcibly entering homes while families were inside.
Immigration advocates and legal experts have raised alarms about the presence of border patrol agents in U.S. cities, arguing that these agents, who are trained to combat illegal crossings and drug smuggling at borders, are ill-equipped for civil immigration enforcement in urban environments. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Customs and Border Protection (CBP), did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding Judge Ellis's recent order.
In court hearings, federal officials have claimed that the use of riot control gear and tear gas was a response to perceived threats. However, they have yet to provide substantial evidence supporting these claims. Judge Ellis specifically questioned Bovino’s own actions, citing a video in which he was seen throwing a canister of tear gas into a crowd of residents in Little Village, a predominantly immigrant neighborhood in Chicago. She expressed serious concerns about the use of force in the Old Irving Park area, describing it as “a fairly quiet neighborhood with a lot of families.”
“These kids, you can imagine, their sense of safety was shattered on Saturday,” Ellis stated. “And it’s going to take a long time for that to come back, if ever.” This remark underscores the lasting impact that aggressive immigration enforcement tactics can have on communities, particularly among vulnerable populations.
