CHICAGO (AP) — Federal officers assigned to immigration enforcement in the Chicago area are currently equipped with body cameras, but the extension of their use hinges on additional funding from Congress, officials testified during a hearing regarding the tactics being employed in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which has led to over 1,000 arrests.
During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis ordered that where available, uniformed agents must activate their body cameras during arrests, searches, and protests. This was raised as a concern in light of multiple complaints alleging that agents are increasingly incorporating combative approaches.
Kyle Harvick, deputy incident commander with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), noted that while Border Patrol agents in the Chicago area—numbering 201—are equipped with cameras, further funding is required for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, as currently, only two field offices utilize this technology. Particularly troubling is the absence of cameras at the Broadview facility, where immigrants pass through for detention and where protests have escalated.
Judge Ellis, during the hearing, emphasized that the use of body cameras ensures accountability from the agents. She also stated that agents must display their badges and are prohibited from using certain aggressive riot control tactics against peaceful demonstrators and reporters.
The hearing was prompted by a lawsuit from news organizations and activist groups monitoring the protests and arrests in the Chicago area. Judge Ellis plans to further question federal officials, including Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol chief leading the Chicago operation, about their practices and incidents of using tear gas and other aggressive measures against civilians.
In defense of these tactics, Harvick expressed that they are necessary due to safety concerns during operations, stating that the longer agents remain on a scene unfettered, the more hazardous the situation becomes not just for law enforcement but for bystanders too.
As the tension surrounding immigration enforcement tactics continues to rise, many are left questioning the ethics and approaches taken by federal agencies in their pursuit of compliance with immigration laws.
