Judge Sarah Ellis, an Obama appointee overseeing the case, disqualified federal agents from “using riot control weapons,” “shooting [tear gas] canisters,” “using force, such as pulling or pushing a person to the ground, grabbing or body-slamming a person,” “hitting any person with a vehicle,” and other abuses of power. The order applies to all Department of Homeland Security agents, including ICE and the Border Patrol.
Federal agents have done all this in recent weeks. In September, an ICE agent fired a pepper ball at a CBS News Chicago reporter. Asal Rezaei car completely spontaneously, just one of many recent attacks on journalists. Also last month ICE shot Reverend David Black in the head with a pepper ball as he prayed outside the ICE building in Broadview. In another incident caught on camera, CBP agent shot a woman five timesand then arrested her.
“Federal agents responded with extreme brutality in a concerted and sustained effort to silence the press and the civilian population. Dressed in full combat gear, often wearing masks, carrying guns, armed with stun grenades and tear gas canisters, and marching in formation, federal agents repeatedly attacked those present at the scene incident and did not pose an immediate threat to law enforcement. “Snipers with weapons loaded with pepper balls, paintballs and rubber bullets are stationed on the roof of the Broadview ICE facility, and their weapons are aimed at the press and civilians,” the original said. complaintmade on behalf of the Chicago Headline Club, Block Club Chicago and Chicago Newspaper Guild Local 34071, as well as other local media organizations.
