A senior Border Patrol commander, Gregory Bovino, has been accused of violating a federal judge’s restraining order by personally throwing tear gas at protesters during an immigration enforcement operation in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. This incident has escalated legal and community tensions over the Trump administration’s aggressive tactics in the city.
The confrontation unfolded on October 23, 2025, when federal agents conducted raids at the Discount Mall in Little Village, a vibrant commercial hub with deep cultural ties to Chicago’s Mexican American community. As crowds gathered to protest the presence of immigration authorities, Bovino was captured on video apparently lobbing a tear gas canister without issuing any prior warnings, according to court documents and eyewitness accounts. The filing, submitted by journalism advocacy groups and protesters, alleged that Bovino’s actions breached multiple provisions of the judge’s order.
This event is part of an ongoing federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, which accuses agents of a pattern of extreme brutality aimed at silencing press and civilians. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis had issued a temporary restraining order restricting the use of force by immigration officials, including limitations on tear gas deployment against media and protesters. Just days before the incident, Ellis expressed concerns about compliance during a hearing and ordered Bovino to testify under oath in a deposition.
Bovino, who leads Border Patrol’s El Centro sector and is the on-ground commander for “Operation Midway Blitz,” defended the agents’ conduct in a recent interview, stating that force used has been “exemplary” and the “least amount necessary.” However, community members and legal representatives dispute this characterization, pointing to the lack of justification for the tear gas deployment and previous incidents where agents used pepper spray and physically restrained protesters.
The raids resulted in at least six detentions on October 23, including a 16-year-old U.S. citizen who was on their way to school, sparking outrage among local officials and educators. Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez and state Representative Edgar Gonzalez highlighted the trauma inflicted on minors, with one teacher noting that such events make learning nearly impossible due to fear and stress. Community leaders emphasized that the operations have led to the arrest of U.S. citizens and individuals based on racial profiling.
In response, Judge Ellis expanded Bovino’s deposition time to five hours and scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing for November 5, which could impose further restrictions on federal agents. Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced the creation of an accountability commission to document enforcement abuses and recommend actions to prevent harm, reflecting the broader political clash over immigration policies.
Local residents and organizations have mobilized peaceful resistance efforts, such as patrols and whistle alerts, to counter the federal presence. The repeated use of tear gas in residential areas, including previous incidents in neighborhoods like East Side and Brighton Park, has drawn condemnation from clergy members and activists involved in the lawsuit. As legal proceedings advance, the community remains vigilant, advocating for justice and an end to tactics they deem provocative and unlawful.