Border Patrol Chief Bovino Vows Intensified Efforts Following Chicago Judge's Directive

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CHICAGO — The U.S. Border Patrol chief, who has played a pivotal role in a major federal operation addressing crime and immigration in Chicago, has vowed to intensify efforts following a summons to a federal court in the city this week.

On Wednesday, Gregory Bovino announced that he and the extensive team of federal officers and agents participating in “Operation Midway Blitz” are determined to increase the number of arrests as the initiative progresses.

Kriti Noem, from the Department of Homeland Security, stated on Thursday that since its commencement on September 8, the operation has resulted in over 3,000 arrests.

Meanwhile, Illinois Governor Pritzker’s request for a temporary halt on ICE activities during Halloween was dismissed by Noem.

After being called to appear before U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis on Tuesday, who voiced concerns about possible breaches of a temporary restraining order by federal personnel, Bovino expressed that the court appearance has only heightened his resolve to fulfill his duties.

Bovino spoke to hours after an Illinois appeals court issued a stay on Ellis’ order from Tuesday’s hearing that required Bovino to meet with her daily to discuss federal operations in Chicago.

A protester confronts an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer outside of an ICE facility in Broadview, Sept. 19, 2025.

Bovino told that federal officers and agents continue to follow the guidelines of the restraining order, which Ellis issued in response to a federal lawsuit filed by journalists, protesters and clergy over the use of force, including the deployment of tear gas by federal agents.

He said when the order was issued by Ellis, officials went line by line to ensure compliance and for “air-tight, legal, ethical and moral” operations. However, several Illinois elected officials, including Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, have continued to criticize the ongoing operations and Bovino personally.

Community leaders and protesters have accused federal officers of “kidnapping” migrants off the streets and of taking detainees into custody without warrants.

Previous restraining orders were issued to federal agents in California, including as part of a large-scale immigration and crime crackdown that took place earlier this year in Los Angeles. Bovino said that as the agency has in the past, DHS will follow court orders “by the letter of the law,” which he said will continue throughout the duration of the Chicago-based operation.

“TROs are simply a facet of doing business, and we do our business very well,” Bovino told . “And the business of arresting illegal aliens here in the United States is definitely good.”

Ellis and local elected officials have continued to decry the use of tear gas, which has been deployed in local neighborhoods and at the ICE processing center in suburban Broadview. Ellis stopped short of banning the use of chemical and other nonlethal munitions by federal agents.

However, Ellis told Bovino that she would prohibit the use of those measures if she learned of violations of the restraining order. That order bans federal officers and agents from deploying tear gas and pepper spray against journalists, clergy and protesters if they are not posing an immediate threat to federal law enforcement.

Bovino, citing an upcoming deposition with attorneys, declined to speak specifically about instances in which tear gas has been deployed. However, he described the use of nonlethal munitions as a tool that is designed to keep officers, detainees and other members of the public safe.

Ellis’ previous order also requires federal officers to wear body-worn cameras to provide documentation of their ongoing enforcement operations. Bovino testified Tuesday that 99% of officers assigned to Operation Midway Blitz are using those cameras but acknowledged he does not have that equipment nor has he been trained to use it. Ellis ordered Bovino to undergo that training and to begin wearing a body camera by Friday.

Bovino told the judge he would comply and told he welcomes the opportunity to join other federal officers who are using them.

“I can assure you that camera will be put to very good use,” Bovino said. “It will help tell a story … and some folks will be shocked by what they see from my body camera just as they will be shocked by the cameras worn by our agents.”