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A U.S. District Judge in Chicago has unequivocally commanded federal agents involved in immigration operations to wear and activate body cameras, asserting that the directive was “not a suggestion.” This firm order follows growing concerns over escalating confrontations between federal personnel and the public, particularly during ‘Operation Midway Blitz.’
Judge Sara Ellis initially issued the order on Thursday, citing the increasing violence witnessed during federal agent deployments and their use of crowd control measures, including tear gas, against protesters. The judicial mandate specifies that any federal agents operating under ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ must utilize body cameras and ensure they remain active throughout all “law enforcement activities.”
During a follow-up hearing on Friday, as Judge Ellis prepared to receive testimony regarding the use of tear gas and other deterrents by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Chicago’s East Side neighborhood earlier in the week, she forcefully reiterated her requirement for body cameras.
“Perhaps I wasn’t clear yesterday; that wasn’t a suggestion,” Judge Ellis stated unequivocally to lawyers representing the Trump administration. “I am modifying the temporary restraining order to include body-worn cameras. It’s not up for debate.”
While federal agents generally utilize body cameras nationwide, a notable exception has been made for agents stationed in Chicago. Judge Ellis emphasized the compulsory nature of her ruling:
“This was not a suggestion,” Ellis declared in court. “It wasn’t a hint. It wasn’t a topic of discussion or conversation. It was an order. So, I will enter it today and then I will expect that it will be followed.”
In response to the ruling, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticized the decision, labeling it an “extreme act of judicial activism.”