A federal judge has released footage from nearly four dozen body cameras showing immigration agents’ ‘unprecedented’ use of force during their months-long deportation blitz in the Chicago area.
Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, handed down a historic order restricting agents use of force in “Operation Midway Blitz,” claiming the tactics she’d seen so far “shocks the conscience.”
Ellis issued a scathing written version of the order last week, citing examples of agents enthusiastically deploying tear gas into crowds without warning, trying to cause car crashes, and repeatedly lying about the reasoning for use of force.
The judge went even further, saying the violent image of Chicago the feds have created to justify their “unprecedented swath of indiscriminate uses of force…simply is untrue.”
It largely echoed a separate WBEZ and Sun-Times analysis of hundreds of court documents, videos and news reports that found agents operating in the Chicago area were involved in eight car chases and used force in at least 76 incidents during roughly the same period this fall.
Experts say those tactics often conflict with professional policing practices, heighten safety risks, erode public confidence in police officers and discourage people from cooperating with them.
The case before Ellis was brought by media organizations including the Chicago Headline Club, Block Club Chicago and the Chicago Newspaper Guild, which represents journalists at the Chicago Sun-Times.
Ellis’ preliminary injunction has already been halted by a federal appeals court, which found it to be “overbroad” while promising a swift appeals process.
The newly released body camera footage below offers a visceral look at some of Midway Blitz’s highest-profile incidents, as agents came face to face with community members in neighborhoods across the city and suburbs.
Editors note: The following videos contain profanities and scenes that could be difficult to watch for some people. The videos were edited down for length, but not modified in any other way.
Sept. 19: Broadview clash between agents and protesters
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in suburban Broadview has been the site of near-daily protests over recent months. On the morning of Sept. 19, a confrontation between agents and protesters quickly escalated, after some allegedly blocked ICE vehicles from leaving the facility.
Agents fired tear gas and pepper balls into the crowd. Later that evening, a group of protesters remained on the other side of the street “peacefully” holding signs, according to Ellis’ written order.
Agents open the facility gates and “almost immediately and without warning,” begin launching stun grenades, tear gas, and pepper balls at the protesters, according to the order and video.
A few minutes later, agents are seen firing less lethal munitions (possibly rubber pellets or pepper balls) at a man who appeared to be walking away from the vocal protesters and ICE facility. Shots continue to ring out as the man turns his back and raises his hands against a fence, according to video.
“I just need to leave,” the man said, squinting his eyes and his hands still raised as agents surrounded him.
An agent tells him if he comes back he will be arrested. “Do you understand?” he asks.
“Yes sir,” the man responds.
Oct. 14: East Side PIT maneuver and protest
On Oct. 14, agents chasing a red SUV through a residential street in the East Side neighborhood used a controversial “pursuit immobilization technique,” or PIT maneuver, causing the vehicle to spin out and crash.
“I’m gonna PIT him, bro, f— it,” said one agent before squealing the tires while accelerating, as captured on body worn camera.
The agent was not certified in the technique, according to Ellis’ order.
“I’m not certified, bro,” he says at one point in the video while asking for spike strips.
Later, as the agent in the front passenger’s seat readies the spike strips, their vehicle slams into the red SUV at a high rate of speed, causing it to crash. The impact is hard enough to set off the agents’ car horn and air bags.
The agents depart their vehicle and continue chasing the people on foot.
Nearby residents gathered and began to protest a large group of Border Patrol agents who responded to the scene. Journalists also arrived.
Despite the crowd’s “peaceful nature,” according to the order, agents quickly made plans to deploy tear gas.
“[Do it] when you f—ing feel like you need to, but don’t do it unless they’re throwing s—,” an agent recording body-worn camera footage tells another about when to throw tear gas.
Chicago police officers arrived a few minutes later to help agents leave the area. The same agent whose camera was recording approached the officers and told them, “They’re starting to throw rocks. I’m gonna have to deploy gas.”
Some protesters had thrown a few objects like water bottles throughout the standoff.
“Give us a minute to talk to them [protesters] and let’s try to get you guys out of here, I mean, that’s what we’re trying to do,” a CPD officer responds.
Agents deployed tear gas less than a minute later as Chicago police formed a wall between them and the protesters. The agents threw more tear gas canisters and then left the scene.
Oct. 23: Little Village Bovino tear gas incident
Ellis found U.S. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino repeatedly lied about the reasoning for deploying tear gas on protesters in Little Village on Oct. 23.
Bovino initially claimed he used tear gas after someone threw a rock at his head.
On his third day of testimony he admitted he was “mistaken,” while maintaining there was a “large crowd of rioters” present which warranted force.
As protesters fled, Bovino launched a second canister of gas into the crowd.
Around the same time, protesters began to gather a couple blocks away near the Little Village Discount Mall. Bovino told an agent, “If you need to deploy gas, deploy f—ing gas.”
The agent responded, “No, we’re good. We’re good.”
Just minutes later, Bovino said over the radio, “We’re gonna gas, looks like we’re gonna go ahead and gas.”
An agent walks up to protesters and tells them, “Get back. Get back or you will be gassed,” then tosses a tear gas canister, which a female protester kicks back toward the agents.
The agent runs over and grabs the woman, telling her, “F— you, you’re under arrest.”
The agent is heard coughing as he handcuffs her on the ground next to a canister releasing tear gas.
Other videos of the standoff in Little Village show a few dozen protesters crowding around agents, filming and yelling at them.
Some protesters are seen throwing and kicking tear gas canisters back toward agents, including one that nearly hit Bovino.
At another point, an agent fires what appears to be a pepper ball at a protester at point blank range, causing a chemical irritant that clouds the air.
Other agents then toss more tear gas toward the small group of protesters.
Contributing: Angela Massino and Kaitlin Washburn.
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