Judge Orders ICE Official to Testify After Chicago Tear-Gassing Incident: A Deep Concern
A federal judge expressed profound concern over the apparent violation of her temporary restraining order by federal agents during a recent incident in Chicago. The order, issued last week, imposed restrictions on the use of tear gas and other riot control weapons against journalists and protesters. Judge Sara Ellis of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has taken decisive action, ordering Russell Hott, director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Field Office in Chicago, to appear before her on Monday. Hott will be questioned about several incidents where agents clashed with residents and protesters over the past few days.
Ellis has also expanded her temporary restraining order to include a requirement for federal agents equipped with body-worn cameras to wear them and keep them on during 'law enforcement activities' in Chicago. This decision comes in light of a particularly concerning incident on Tuesday in a residential neighborhood on the Southeast Side of Chicago. Border Patrol agents were involved in a vehicle crash while chasing a man they alleged had rammed their vehicle and was in the country illegally.
During the incident, federal agents deployed tear gas on a crowd of residents drawn to the crash. A 19-year-old U.S. citizen, Warren King, was also detained during the incident. King, who was shopping in a store in the southeast side neighborhood, was confronted by agents as he exited, tackled to the ground, and detained for several hours despite his and others' assertions that he was an American citizen.
Ellis emphasized the importance of appropriate crowd control in urban, densely populated areas, and highlighted the Chicago Police Department's protocols for calling off chases in residential neighborhoods. She stressed that everyone must abide by their constitutional obligations, expressing deep concern over the events of the past week since her order was issued.
However, the Department of Homeland Security's attorney, Sean Skedzielewski, argued that Ellis lacks all the necessary facts and relies on inaccurate news reports. Skedzielewski also mentioned the challenge of providing body cameras to all agents, given the ongoing government shutdown and the daily changes in the number of agents.
Despite these challenges, Ellis emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency, stating that having cameras would help the agency and ensure her orders are followed. The case that prompted her temporary restraining order was filed against the Department of Justice, the DHS, and other federal entities by a group of journalists and religious leaders, alleging violations of constitutional protections.
The Southeast Side incident is just the latest in a series of incidents that have outraged Chicago's elected leaders and community groups. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has criticized the federal immigration crackdown, describing it as 'creating mayhem.' Pritzker accused federal agents of lying about certain incidents and supported Judge Ellis's decision to order body cameras for federal agents.
The incident involving Debbie Brockman, an employee for WGN-TV in Chicago, further highlights the tension. Brockman, a U.S. citizen, was detained by Border Patrol agents who alleged she threw something at them. She was released without charges, and her lawyer is considering legal action. The DHS's response to the incident, however, painted a different picture, alleging that agents were attacked by 'violent agitators.'
The case of Marimar Martinez, a 30-year-old woman shot by Border Patrol agents on the Southwest side of Chicago, also raises questions. Martinez pleaded not guilty to a single-count indictment charging her with assault on a federal officer. The DHS's statement emphasized Martinez's history of doxxing federal agents, but her attorney disputes the government's allegations, citing inconsistencies in the evidence.
