Border Patrol Commander Responds to Judge's Order, Immigration Crackdown in Chicago

Border Patrol Commander's Response to Court Order

• 🎯 Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino stated that a U.S. district judge's order to wear a body camera motivates his agency to "go even harder" in arresting individuals.
• 💡 Bovino believes the order provides an opportunity to demonstrate that their operations are legal, ethical, and moral, describing their work as "airtight."
• 🚀 He emphasized that their operations are efficient, referring to the arrest of "illegal aliens" as good business, and they intend to apprehend even more.

Body Cameras and Use of Force

• 📹 Bovino expressed enthusiasm for receiving his court-ordered body camera, stating he "can't wait to have a body-worn camera" as it will "help tell a story."
• ⚠️ He highlighted the use of less-lethal tools, body cameras, and restraint policies, prioritizing transparency and safety.
• ✅ The chief pointed to the low number of injuries as indicative of a well-run operation with optimal use of force.

Protester Reactions and Governor's Plea

• ✊ Protesters in Chicago expressed disgust with the Trump administration's actions, calling for an end to gassing neighborhoods and terrorizing residents, particularly those with brown skin.
• 🗣️ Illinois Governor JB Pritzker pleaded with DHS to pause operations during Halloween weekend to protect children from less-lethal munitions like tear gas.
• 🚫 DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas refused the governor's request, stating operations would not be paused.

Allegations of Child Detainment

• ❓ Regarding allegations of children being zip-tied, Chief Bovino pushed back, stating that children were never zip-tied by Border Patrol.
• ⚖️ He asserted that their policy mandates keeping children in the least restrictive setting possible.
• 📍 The reporting journalist, Ally Bradley, also stated she did not witness children being zip-tied during the operation.

Operation Midway Blitz Success

• 📈 Chief Bovino declared Operation Midway Blitz a "resounding success."
• 👥 More than 3,000 people have been arrested since the operations began in early September.