Judge gives Trump Border Patrol commander an ultimatum after multiple 'violations'

During a hearing on Tuesday morning, October 28, Gregory Bovino — the U.S. Border Patrol chief in charge of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Chicago — appeared in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis. And the judge wanted answers, aggressively confronting Bovino about incidents of excessive force during the immigration raids in that city.

Politico's Shia Kapos detailed their exchanges in a thread posted on X, formerly Twitter, that morning. Later, Block Club Chicago reporter Mina Bloom described the hearing in an article published in the afternoon.

According to Kapos, Bovino entered the courtroom in his green fatigues — and Ellis "immediately" called him to the stand, reminding him of the "obligation we each have under the Constitution" to tell the truth.

Bovino, Kapos tweeted, wasted no time before she started grilling Bovino and demanded answers about the raids in Chicago. And she voiced her concerns about a range of issues, from agents failing to adequately identify themselves to agents not using bodycams.

Kapos tweeted, "Judge is now discussing concerns that agents don't always identify themselves. Bovino says: 'I instructed all agents under my command to ... place an identifier conspicuously on their uniform.' The reason it's no always seen, he says, is because equipment may cover it ... Next, judge urges Bovino to make sure agents wear cameras. 'The cameras are your friend,' said the judge. Asked if he wears one, (Bovino) says he has not received body-worn camera or training. She says 'how about by Friday' you get one."

Ellis, according to Kapos, was quite aggressive when it came to grilling Bovino about use of excessive force.

Kapos noted, "Judge Ellis pulls out a file of 'violations over the last week or so' including a woman who says two agents were on top of her, one with his knee on her back 'and no visible identification' and another instance when a chemical spray was deployed, 'and there was no warning' ... Bovino responds to the judge, saying, 'I believe each situation is dependent on the situation. I would want to learn more before I say anything one way or another ... I don't know all the facts.'"

Ellis noted an incident involving children in Halloween costumes.

According to Kapos, "Now judge is zeroing in on the case of kids in Halloween costumes celebrating Halloween in their Old Irving Park neighborhood. 'I can only imagine how terrified they were.' Judge says. 'Their sense of safety was shattered... it should have been a really happy day.'"

The judge also stressed that protesters have a right to peacefully demonstrate — regardless of whether Bovino likes it or not.

Kapos tweeted, "Judge is scanning through complaints: tear gas thrown, another agent without identification. Regarding protesters or others yelling at agents, "they don't have to like what you're doing. And that's OK. ...they can't get tear-gassed."