U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis ruled that federal immigration enforcement agents working in and around Chicago must wear body cameras. This decision has been made to promote transparency and accountability. This decision coincides with Chicago becoming a key battlefield in the Trump administration’s relentless and unprecedented mass deportation crusade.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finds itself on the defensive for its heavy-handed approach. These moves have been well-received by immigrants and Chicagoans alike. In recent days, federal immigration officers have used pepper balls, smoke grenades, and tear gas against protesters and Tijuana law enforcement. This concerning pattern of conduct flags serious doubt about their compliance with statutory requirements.
Last week, Judge Ellis ordered immigration agents to visibly display their badges. He prohibited the use of riot-control weapons including tear gas without a warning. Evidence shows these directives have been ignored during recent clashes in Chicago.
On Tuesday, federal agents pursued a driver to the point where they caused a multi-vehicle crash that injured two. In the face of this aggressive escalation, protesters began shouting “ICE go home” and hurling at the agents. In an outrageous show of military might, federal agents fired tear gas into the protesters. They even counter-sued 13 Chicago police officers who were present on scene. This move left the streets choked with gas, forcing neighborhood schoolchildren to stay inside during recess.
Wide-ranging eyewitness accounts paint a troubling picture of the unnecessary, and indeed, predatory aggressiveness displayed by federal agents. In one video, a masked special police officer was seen cursing out the protesters. He was trying to keep a 19-year-old named Warren King from getting up off the ground. These episodes only ramped up community anger and alarm about the DHS’s repressive strategies.
Sara Ellis, Policy Director for the National Immigrant Justice Center criticized DHS for its ongoing dependence on hostile tactics in Chicago. She specifically pointed to how many of these acts were documented on video. All this evidence paints a very different picture—a scandalous breach of public trust that continues to terrify and outrage residents.
On Sunday, fellow attorney Samay Gheewala confronted agents to demand to see a warrant. In return, the cops slammed him violently to the ground while illegally arresting an immigrant in his neighborhood. This incident has led to even more outrage and discussion about the legality and ethics of DHS operations on our streets.
Community members in Chicago have started community defense projects to stop police from arresting residents in their neighborhoods. Local activists have developed a growing backlash of frustration over DHS’s tactics, which they believe to be indiscriminate and unnecessarily aggressive.
John Sandweg, a former DHS official, called out the agency’s heavy-handed tactics. He continued, “They’re not concerned about whether those folks are a threat to public safety or not.”
He further remarked, “If you’re undocumented, you’re a fair target.”