Crime & Safety
Judge Orders ICE Agents In Chicago Area To Wear Body Cameras
U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis also ordered a Chicago area ICE director appear in court Monday to answer questions about violations.
CHICAGO, IL — Stating she was "profoundly concerned" over aggressive measures taken by ICE agents to control protestors and journalists, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis on Thursday ordered all federal immigration officers in the Chicago area to wear body cameras moving forward.
The decision by Ellis comes a week after she ordered agents in the area to wear badges andbanned certain tactics, including the use of tear gas, to be used on protesters and journalists, according to media reports.
Related: County Judge In Chicago Area Bars ICE From Arresting People At Court
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"I'm having concerns about my order being followed," the judge said.
Now all agents who are taking part in Operation Midway Blitz must wear body-worn camera and "they are to be turned on," Ellis said during Thursday's hearing.
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During the hourlong hearing, Ellis touched on violations by ICE she'd seen in media reports, including one on the city's East Side where officers used a dangerous maneuver to stop a fleeing vehicle and then deployed multiple canisters of tear gas in the neighborhood where dozens flocked following the crash, according to the Chicago Tribune.
“I am profoundly concerned about what has been happening over the last week, since I entered this order,” Ellis said.
The judge added the body cameras are meant to make sure agents are giving the court-ordered two warnings before they use rubber bullets, tear gas and other measures, according to ABC 7 Chicago.
Attorney Sean Skedzieiewski, who represented the Dept of Homeland Security, said news reports regarding the incidents in question are inaccurate, and the judges does not have all the facts, according to media reports. He also said that not all agents may have body-worn cameras in the Chicago area, and that rolling out a costly program during the government shutdown would be challenging.
During Thursday's hearing, Ellis also ordered that ICE Field Office Director Russell Hott appear in court on Monday to answer questions regarding incidents where violations may have occurred, ABC 7 Chicago is reporting.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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