CHICAGO — Federal immigration officers enforcing the Trump administration’s crackdown in Chicago are now required to wear body cameras, following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis. The judge cited concerns that officers were failing to follow a previous court order meant to regulate their interactions with protesters.
Under Ellis’s order, officers equipped with body-worn cameras must activate them during all immigration enforcement activities, including encounters with the public. The move comes on the heels of an earlier temporary restraining order that required federal agents to give warnings before deploying tear gas and to wear visible identification while on duty.
Ellis has summoned representatives from federal immigration agencies to a hearing on Monday to report on compliance with her directive, which remains in effect until November 6. The judge expressed frustration at reports of federal agents using tear gas on protesters and journalists without issuing the mandated warnings.
The federal crackdown, dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” has prompted mass arrests across Chicago and sparked widespread protests. In response, the Trump administration sent National Guard troops to the city, citing threats to federal law enforcement.
Protesters, journalists, and clergy have filed lawsuits claiming they were deliberately targeted during demonstrations, seeking to block federal agents from using force or riot-control weapons unless individuals pose a threat. They argue that the administration’s actions violate constitutional protections.
Recent weeks have seen multiple incidents of federal agents deploying tear gas and pepper balls in Chicago, including one September confrontation that left a Mexican national dead. State and city officials are also challenging the deployment of National Guard troops in federal court, with judges issuing temporary restraining orders against the deployment.
