Federal Judge Mandates Bodycams for ICE Officers Following Chicago Protests

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In a significant move, an Illinois judge has mandated that federal officers don body cameras during immigration enforcement activities, addressing mounting apprehensions over potential altercations with demonstrators.

This directive was delivered by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis on Thursday, following alarming reports of agents deploying tear gas against civilians. The decision was prompted by a widely circulated video that captured federal agents using tear gas on crowds earlier in the week. Judge Ellis expressed deep unease, noting that the agents’ actions might have breached her prior directive, which had stipulated the wearing of identifiable badges and prohibited specific crowd-control measures.

In response to these developments, Ellis emphasized the need for all officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol participating in “Operation Midway Blitz” to be equipped with and actively use body cameras during their missions.

However, a representative from the Justice Department highlighted a logistical challenge, noting that not all officers currently possess body cameras. The ongoing government shutdown further complicates efforts to adhere to the judge’s order.

The judge also ordered Chicago’s ICE field director to appear in court Monday to explain how the agency will comply with the ruling.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who has spoken out against the deployment of federal agents to the state, celebrated Thursday’s ruling.

“The idea that there’s any justification for people tossing tear gas in the context of people’s protests, I think the judge reacted to that properly by ordering that now the federal agents are required to have body cameras on them because they clearly lie about what goes on,” Pritzker said.

Last year, ICE began deploying about 1,600 body cameras to officers involved in enforcement and removal operations. Other Homeland Security agencies, including Customs and Border Protection, already require some agents to wear cameras.

Another weekend of protests is planned outside an ICE processing facility in suburban Chicago. The location in Broadview, Illinois, has been the site of frequent and at times, violent clashes between federal agents and protesters.

As of Friday morning, there was no protest barrier outside the facility. Police told they were counting on the new body camera requirement and tighter crowd restrictions from the village mayor to help keep tensions under control.