Title: Judge Mandates Body Cameras for ICE Agents in Chicago Area

A federal judge has ordered immigration officers in the Chicago area to wear body cameras during enforcement operations. This decision comes after the judge expressed concern over violent confrontations between agents and the public. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis made the announcement on Thursday, stating she was "a little startled" by images of clashes that included the use of tear gas. "I live in Chicago if folks haven’t noticed," she remarked. "And I’m not blind, right?"

The ruling follows a significant increase in community efforts to monitor U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. Neighborhood groups have been actively filming incidents involving ICE agents, especially as more than 1,000 immigrants have been arrested since September. Protests have also been frequent at an immigration enforcement facility in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago.

In addition to the body camera requirement, Judge Ellis previously mandated that agents must wear badges and prohibited them from using certain riot control techniques against peaceful protesters and journalists. She expressed her concerns about compliance with her orders, stating, "I’m getting images and seeing images on the news, in the paper, reading reports where I’m having concerns about my order being followed."

The judge specifically referred to the ongoing enforcement operation known as Operation Midway Blitz, emphasizing that all agents involved must have their body cameras activated. U.S. Justice Department attorney Sean Skedzielewski criticized media coverage, claiming it was "one-sided and selectively edited." He also noted that it would not be feasible to distribute cameras immediately. Judge Ellis acknowledged this, saying, "I understand that. I would not be expecting agents to wear body-worn cameras they do not have," and indicated that logistical details could be resolved later.

The judge has summoned the field director of the enforcement operation to appear in court next week. In 2024, ICE began deploying approximately 1,600 body cameras to agents involved in Enforcement and Removal Operations, with plans to provide them to agents in several cities, including Baltimore and Philadelphia. Other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security also require some agents to wear body cameras, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released footage from these cameras when force has been used by its personnel.