Federal Judge Questions ICE, CBP Over Tear Gas Use During Chicago Immigration Raids

A federal judge in Chicago, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, is set to question Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials regarding the use of tear gas and force during immigration raids under the Trump administration's "Operation Midway Blitz." The judge expressed concern that agents violated her temporary restraining order, which prohibits tear gas use on peaceful protesters without warning, and has mandated that agents equipped with body cameras must keep them turned on during operations. Recent incidents in Chicago neighborhoods, including Logan Square, Brighton Park, Albany Park, and the East Side, involved tear gas deployment without warnings, prompting the judge to demand testimony from senior officials, including CBP Deputy Incident Commander Kyle Harvick, after ICE's Chicago field director Russell Hott returned to Washington. Ellis emphasized the importance of compliance with her orders and accountability from senior officials overseeing ICE operations. Additionally, Monday marks the deadline for the city and state to respond to the Trump administration's Supreme Court appeal to allow National Guard troops on Chicago streets, following a federal judge's restraining order against such deployment. These legal proceedings underscore tensions between federal immigration enforcement tactics and local judicial oversight in Chicago.