A federal judge in Illinois has sharply condemned the Trump administration for what she sees as ongoing violations of constitutional rights during violent crackdowns on protesters and journalists in Chicago. Despite her recent court order aimed at curbing such abuses, reports and footage suggest federal agents continue to use excessive force.
US District Court Judge Sara Ellis expressed deep frustration Thursday during a hearing called on short notice. “I’m a little startled frankly, that since Thursday when I entered the (temporary restraining order) last week, I’m getting images and seeing images on the news, in the paper, reading reports, where at least from what I’m seeing, I’m having serious concerns that my order’s being followed,” she said bluntly, CNN reports.
“I’m not happy,” Ellis added, her exasperation unmistakable. “I’m really not happy.”
The temporary restraining order was issued last week after a coalition of journalists and protesters sued the Trump administration, accusing federal agents of targeting peaceful demonstrators and reporters—including multiple accounts of journalists being hit with pepper balls despite clearly identifying themselves as press.
The order explicitly bars federal agents from using tear gas or “less-lethal” munitions unless faced with an immediate threat to safety. It also protects journalists who are not interfering with law enforcement from being targeted.
Yet, according to Judge Ellis and those involved in the lawsuit, the violent tactics persist. She pointed to a recent incident on Chicago’s southeast side involving US Border Patrol agents deploying tear gas without warning following a traffic accident. Protesters and journalists say they were caught in the barrage despite no apparent provocation.
“There’s a reason the Chicago Police Department has policies about car chases and where they occur, and where they need to stop,” the judge said, highlighting what she perceives as reckless federal actions.
To hold federal agents accountable, Ellis announced she will require all agents equipped with body cameras to keep them on during encounters with immigration protesters.
“That’s the nice thing about body cameras is that they pick up events before the triggering event happens,” she explained.
Initially, Ellis ordered all agents to wear body cameras, but agreed to some flexibility after Sean Skedzielewski, an attorney representing the Trump administration, argued it would be “logistically impossible” to outfit every agent immediately.
The Justice Department pushed back against the body camera requirement, citing the “tremendous amount of resources” needed to review and redact footage in response to every complaint.
Ellis rejected these arguments and said she is demanding answers directly from federal leadership. She ordered the field director of Operation Midway Blitz to appear in court Monday at 10:30 a.m. local time to explain the ongoing use of tear gas and why warnings were allegedly not given before its deployment.
“The issue is that DHS is using force in a manner that violates the constitutional rights of peaceful protesters, journalists and, essentially, clergy members,” Ellis stated firmly.
“You can’t shoot ‘em in the head (with pepper balls),” she said. “You can’t deploy tear gas. You can’t use flash-bang grenades. You can’t drive a car through a crowd.”
Video footage of a pastor being repeatedly struck by pepper balls during a demonstration outside an ICE facility near Chicago earlier this month has drawn widespread outrage and become emblematic of the broader issue.
While the Trump administration’s attorney claimed the judge’s reaction may be based on “one-sided and selectively edited media reports,” Ellis said some details are still in dispute, which is why she wants to hear directly from the field director on Monday.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, though not a party to the lawsuit, expressed similar concerns this week.
“ICE is causing this mayhem,” Pritzker said. “They’re the ones throwing tear gas when people are peacefully protesting.”
Adding to the tension, a separate federal judge recently blocked President Trump from deploying National Guard troops in Chicago. The administration is appealing that order.
For now, Judge Ellis’s rebuke is a stark warning that federal officials will be held accountable if they continue to trample on rights and escalate violence. The federal government faces a deadline Monday to explain its actions—and the country will be watching.
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