Chicago's Tranquil Protests Shine a Spotlight on Border Patrol Chief Controversy

On Friday, protesters gathered peacefully outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility near Chicago, signaling a notable change in the usual tensions between demonstrators and federal officers.

At the Broadview, Illinois, facility, police informed protesters that they could occupy the designated protest zone earlier than planned if they refrained from blocking the streets. They cautioned that anyone who entered the roadway would face arrest. Previously, interactions between protesters and federal agents in the city had sometimes turned violent due to ICE operations.

Gregory Bovino, a top official with the Border Patrol, is being accused of disregarding a federal judge’s temporary restraining order by using tear gas. The order prohibits federal agents from employing riot control tactics like tear gas unless there is an immediate threat. However, a new video alleges that Bovino threw a tear gas canister into a crowd of protesters in Chicago. Lawyers for the protesters, journalists, and clergy members claim this footage shows Bovino and other agents violating the order, with community members asserting that no warning was given.

“We’ve witnessed an escalation from ICE in the city over the past week,” stated Jackie Birov, a protester. “They have violated the TRO. We saw Greg Bovino himself throw tear gas at people in Little Village yesterday. They’ve detained multiple U.S. citizens and even high school students.”

Elsewhere in the city, protesters were seen demonstrating after federal agents and officers were spotted in the majority-Hispanic neighborhood of Little Village this week. At least six people were detained on Thursday. Chicago police responded to multiple 911 calls, including some from federal agents needing assistance. One person was arrested for allegedly battering a Chicago police officer. Community members say two students on their way to school were detained and allegedly assaulted by federal agents.

“What they did is illegal, they attacked. They detained him over what,” State rep. Edgar Gonzalez said. “There is no charges, so we want to understand why they go detained to begin with.”

Community members and faith leaders are now calling for answers.

“We have U.S. citizens being picked up we have minors being picked up so this is absolutely wrong,” Dr. Emma Lozano, a pastor said.

has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security about this incident but hasn’t heard back. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis has requested to see the body camera footage from the incidents on Wednesday and Thursday as part of Bovino’s deposition and has reminded federal agents to preserve their body camera video.

Meanwhile, Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker has created an accountability commission to document and examine what’s happening with Operation Midway Blitz, accusing federal agents of quote a dangerous abuse of power. Pritzker wants the people of Illinois to record everything and post it on social media.

The Department of Homeland Security responded in a statement writing, “Once again, Governor Pritzker continues to smear law enforcement who simply enforcing the rule of law and are putting their lives on the line to remove violent criminals from Illinois because JB Pritzker refuses to do his job.”

Pritzker says a report from the commission will be issued in January.

Chicago’s Tranquil Protests Shine a Spotlight on Border Patrol Chief Controversy

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