A federal judge has modified a temporary restraining order, now requiring body cameras on all federal agents carrying out immigration enforcement.
The original ruling was issued last week by U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis and prohibited using force, riot control weapons or threats against journalists and protesters. The ruling also required federal agents to issue warnings before deploying riot control weapons.
The modified ruling says federal agents “currently equipped and trained with body-worn cameras” shall activate them when participating in enforcement activity.
This modification comes after Ellis expressed “serious concerns” about whether the Trump administration had been following her order during the president’s “Operation Midway Blitz.”
The judge’s order stems from a lawsuit filed last week by the Chicago Headline Club, Block Club Chicago and the Chicago News Guild, which represents reporters who work at the Sun-Times, and other plaintiffs against the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other federal officials.
The lawsuit alleges federal agents have indiscriminately used excessive force by employing chemical agents and other “riot control” weapons against journalists and protesters during protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in Broadview.
While the ruling specifically adds requirements for body cameras, Justice Department lawyer Sean Skedzielewski said at a Thursday hearing that body cameras have not been given to ICE agents in the Chicago area yet.
“I don’t believe that it will be possible, on a short timeline, to roll out a body-cam program in the Chicago [area of responsibility] for ICE,” he said Thursday.
During the same hearing, Ellis requested that Russell Hott, who was director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Chicago field office, appear in her courtroom Monday to explain what is happening regarding reports of improper enforcement.
However, Ellis confirmed Friday that Hott would no longer be leading the Chicago field office, and someone else would appear in court on Monday.
The modified ruling is in place until Nov. 6.
Related Posts:
- Federal immigration officers in Chicago area will be required to wear body cameras, judge says News By CHRISTINE FERNANDO, Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Federal immigration officers in the Chicago area will be required to wear body cameras, a judge said Thursday after seeing tear gas and other aggressive steps used against protesters. Related Articles Colleges are fighting to prove their return on investment Authorities identify…
- Judge orders ICE official into court as aggressive tactics continue despite her ruling: 'I'm not blind' News A week ago, a federal judge forbade agents from using gas and other “riot control” weapons without warning in Chicago as they carried out President Donald Trump’s deportation blitz. That same judge took the bench early Thursday at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, and she told one of Trump’s lawyers, bluntly,…
- Rockies’ rebuilt front office will include ‘chief revenue and strategy officer,’ source says News The Rockies’ plan to overhaul and rebuild their front office will include hiring what the club is calling a “chief revenue and strategy officer,” a major league source confirmed Thursday. The source also indicated the Rockies are moving closer to hiring a head of baseball operations from outside the organization.…
- Chicago Sun-Times photojournalist talks about his viral images of federal agents tear-gassing protesters News As immigration enforcement has ramped up around the Chicago area, photojournalists have seen it all up close. Sometimes, they’re even caught in the middle. Chicago Sun-Times photojournalist Anthony Vazquez was on the scene this week when federal immigration agents tear-gassed protesters and Chicago police officers on the city’s Far Southeast…
- How we captured the photo of federal immigration agents pointing a crowd control weapon at a protester News This past week underscored even more dangerous and taxing situations for Chicagoans, reporters and our photo staff. On Chicago’s Southeast Side Tuesday, Sun-Times visual journalist Anthony Vazquez found himself documenting chaos as a crowd of onlookers and protesters endured smoke grenades, pepper balls and at least three rounds of tear…
(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)