Border Patrol chief to face judge over use of tear gas on Chicago protests
Border Patrol chief due in Chicago court for use of tear gas amid federal immigration enforcement
Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino is due in federal court in Chicago Tuesday due to the repeated use of tear gas, which a judge said was only allowed if an agent is in imminent danger.
CHICAGO - Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino is due in federal court Tuesday to answer questions about the use of tear gas in Chicago, following another weekend incident that left a Northwest Side neighborhood in chaos.
What we know:
A federal judge has barred immigration officers from using tear gas unless agents face an immediate threat. Despite that order, residents in the Old Irving Park neighborhood say Border Patrol agents deployed tear gas Saturday morning as families were gathering for a Halloween parade.
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Outrage after federal agents use tear gas just before Halloween parade in Old Irving Park
Residents on the Northwest Side are outraged after federal agents deployed chemical agents against protesters.
Witnesses said agents tackled a man on Kildare Avenue, drawing a crowd of neighbors who protested what they saw.
"I was pretty upset to be honest with you," said Brian Kolp, a resident. "I am an attorney. I used to work with and in law enforcement, and watching this happen in my front yard was just not something that I ever thought was gonna come to my front door. But you know, here we are."
Expert on Border Patrol chief due in court for deploying tear gas in Chicago
Commander Gregory Bovino is ordered to testify amid allegations federal agents violated a judge’s order during protests, raising questions about accountability and federal authority.
The man agents were targeting was reportedly an undocumented immigrant who has lived in the U.S. since childhood. A 70-year-old neighbor was also detained during the confrontation.
What's next:
Kolp said he collected tear gas canisters left behind by federal immigration agents and is turning them over to a law firm preparing a lawsuit against the government.
This all comes as President Donald Trump's administration has increased federal immigration enforcement in the Chicago area, supposedly targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
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DHS accused of violating court order in Little Village immigration crackdown
The Chicago Headline Club and other plaintiffs accused federal agents of violating a federal court's temporary restraining order during immigration enforcement operations in Little Village this week, alleging the use of excessive force and tear gas against nonviolent protesters.
Bovin's court hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
The Source: The information in this story came from court documents and previous FOX 32 reporting.