Federal Judge Guides Border Patrol Chief on Immigration Policy Tactics

A federal judge is advising Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino on methods he thinks should be implemented to further President Trump’s immigration initiatives.

Judge Sarah L. Ellis from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois questioned Bovino regarding the current strategies employed by ICE and other federal agents in Chicago related to these immigration policies.

During the court session, Judge Ellis examined allegations suggesting that ICE and Border Patrol have applied excessive force during encounters with protesters, some of whom have become increasingly aggressive. This includes the regular use of tear gas to manage crowds and safeguard federal law enforcement officers.

Ellis specifically highlighted a recent incident where tear gas was deployed near an area where children, dressed in Halloween costumes, were gathering for a parade. She stated that “children wearing Halloween costumes and heading to parades do not immediately pose a threat to the safety of law enforcement officers” and emphasized that using riot control measures against them was inappropriate.

Bovino, dressed in his Border Patrol uniform, committed to ensuring that Chicago police are equipped with body cameras and expressed his intention to use one himself going forward.

Additionally, Ellis cautioned Bovino that officials must alert crowds prior to using gas, insisting that warnings should clearly state their intentions. “The warning must be, ‘We’re going to use tear gas,'” she instructed, stressing that people should have adequate time to respond.

This lawsuit stems from claims by several activist journalists alleging a “pattern of extreme brutality” and injuries inflicted by ICE agents during these altercations.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the use of gas canisters, stating they would only be deployed if agents “herd around an instigator.” They claimed that “the agitators obstructed federal law enforcement” and ignored multiple dispersal warnings, further escalating the situation.

In a recent event, a violent group of protesters clashed with a team of ICE officers, attacking their vehicles and throwing projectiles.

Bovino’s office reported that approximately 3,000 individuals who were unlawfully in the country were arrested and chased from the streets of Chicago.

Judge Ellis also mandated that Bovino appear in federal court at the end of each weekday until a hearing scheduled for November 5, to provide updates on the use of force by deputies and ensure compliance with a temporary restraining order against the use of tear gas.