A federal judge in Illinois has ordered U.S. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino to appear in court daily for the next week to provide a report on his department’s operations in Chicago.
Bovino, an influential section chief with CBP, is responsible for leading the federal government’s deployment of immigration officials to the Windy City over the last month at the request of President Donald Trump. The operation, dubbed “Midway Blitz,” has faced intense scrutiny in recent weeks, as officials were reported to be deploying tear gas against protesters and journalists, despite a restraining order earlier this month barring the use of tear gas to suppress citizens.
“I’m not afraid to enforce this TRO (temporary restraining order,)” U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis told Department of Homeland Security lawyers about 90 minutes after Bovino took the stand. “I have serious questions about whether it’s being followed so under my inherent power to enforce the TRO, this is what I’m requiring,” Ellis continued.