A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a judge’s order requiring Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino to provide daily updates on immigration enforcement activities in Chicago. On Wednesday, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals paused the order, which had mandated that Bovino appear at the Northern Illinois District Court every weekday at 17:45 to brief the court on “Operation Midway Blitz.”
This directive was issued by District Judge Sara Ellis, who expressed concerns about the federal government’s handling of protests against immigration enforcement. Her order also required the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to submit all use of force reports and body-camera footage since September 2023, following worries that federal agents were not adhering to a temporary restraining order prohibiting the use of chemical agents, such as tear gas or pepper spray, against protesters, clergy, and journalists.
The Justice Department swiftly appealed Ellis’ order, arguing that requiring Bovino to regularly appear in court would significantly disrupt immigration enforcement operations in the city. In their filing, DOJ lawyers stated, “The order significantly interferes with the quintessentially executive function of ensuring the Nation’s immigration laws are properly enforced by waylaying a senior executive official critical to that mission on a daily basis.”
The DOJ further contended that Ellis’ order overstepped judicial boundaries by attempting to micromanage the operations of an executive branch law enforcement agency.
Bovino, along with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and chief of staff Corey Lewandowski, has advocated for a more aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, targeting individuals residing in the U.S. without legal status. In comments made last month, Bovino indicated that the intensified federal enforcement in Chicago was focused on apprehending “the worst of the worst” illegal immigrants, particularly those with criminal records.
According to internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statistics obtained by CBS News, CBP agents have made approximately 1,500 arrests in the Chicago area since September 16, 2023. In the same timeframe, officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have executed around 1,400 arrests.
As the legal battle unfolds, the implications for both immigration enforcement and civil liberties in Chicago remain significant. The outcome of this case may shape the future of federal actions in response to ongoing protests and the broader context of immigration policy in the United States.
