A federal judge has modified a temporary restraining order, now requiring body cameras on ICE 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.