A federal judge in Chicago has mandated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wear body cameras during an ongoing immigration enforcement operation called Operation Midway Blitz.
This decision, announced on Thursday, comes after clashes between agents and the public raised alarms in the city, which has seen over 1,000 arrests since September.
U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis expressed concern after witnessing TV footage of confrontations involving tear gas and aggressive tactics during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. “I live in Chicago, and I’m not blind,” Ellis remarked, highlighting her awareness of the tensions in the nation’s third-largest city.
Community Pushback Against ICE
Chicago’s neighborhoods have rallied against ICE activities, with community groups actively monitoring agents and recording incidents. Protests have become a regular occurrence at an immigration enforcement facility in Broadview, just outside Chicago.
The Trump administration attempted to deploy National Guard troops to the area, including Broadview, but another federal judge blocked this move last week.
Judge Ellis has already taken steps to address the unrest. Last week, she ordered ICE agents to wear badges and banned them from using certain riot control methods, like tear gas, against peaceful protesters and journalists. “I’m concerned my orders aren’t being followed,” she said, prompting her to require body cameras for agents involved in Operation Midway Blitz.
Body Cameras to Ensure Transparency
The judge emphasized that body cameras will provide clear evidence of how agents interact with protesters and the public. While Justice Department attorney Sean Skedzielewski argued that “one-sided and selectively edited media reports” exaggerated the issue, he admitted that distributing cameras immediately might be challenging. Ellis acknowledged this but insisted that logistics could be sorted out later.
She also summoned the field director of the enforcement operation to appear in court on Monday to discuss the crackdown further.
Local Leaders Support the Ruling
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker welcomed the judge’s decision, criticizing the federal government for providing inaccurate information about arrests and incidents. He pointed to a recent fatal shooting of a suburban Chicago man as an example of misleading statements. “They clearly lie about what goes on,” Pritzker told reporters. “It’s hard to know the truth right away.”
ICE’s History with Body Cameras
ICE began equipping agents with body cameras in 2024, starting with about 1,600 devices for Enforcement and Removal Operations in cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, Buffalo, New York, and Detroit. Other Homeland Security agencies, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, also use body cameras and have released footage in cases involving force.
Additional Court Protections
In a related development, a Cook County judge this week prohibited ICE from making arrests at courthouses in Chicago and its suburbs, further limiting the agency’s enforcement tactics in the area.
As Chicago grapples with the fallout of Operation Midway Blitz, the push for transparency and accountability in immigration enforcement continues to gain momentum.
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