Judge Demands Accountability from Border Patrol Chief Over Excessive Force

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis made it clear that accountability and restraint must guide how federal immigration agents operate during Chicago’s “Operation Midway Blitz.” After learning that Border Patrol agents under Chief Gregory Bovino may have violated her previous order limiting force, Ellis took decisive action—requiring Bovino to appear before her nightly for a week. “I’m not going to tie the agents’ hands because I’m not out there, and that’s not my job,” she stated. “But I am going to expect that they know and understand their responsibilities on the use of force.”

Her order forbids agents from using tear gas or less-lethal weapons unless there is an “immediate threat to safety,” and mandates clear warnings before any deployment. Ellis emphasized that “the warning has to include what it is that you’re going to do, what you’re going to do before you do it, and allow people to comply.” Videos shown in court appeared to contradict those standards, showing agents firing gas without warning or visible threat. Ellis said, “It’s difficult for me to see that the force being used is necessary to stop an immediate and serious threat of harm to a person.”

The judge underscored transparency and documentation, urging full use of body cameras. “Cameras are your friends,” she told Bovino. “If you are conducting enforcement activities in the street, and there is a threat, the body-worn camera is going to pick that up.” Although most agents had cameras, Bovino admitted he did not, prompting Ellis to instruct him to secure one by Friday. She ordered all use-of-force reports and related bodycam footage turned over to the court under seal.

For Ellis, the issue was not about limiting enforcement but about ensuring it remained lawful and humane. She condemned reports of agents gassing children and families near a neighborhood parade, saying such actions “shattered their sense of safety.” As she put it, “Kids dressed in Halloween costumes walking to a parade do not pose an immediate threat... That’s not how any of us want to live.” Her firm stance reflected a belief that justice and community safety must coexist, insisting agents operate with “objectively reasonable” restraint and respect for the public.

Link: CNN