CHICAGO — Children and caretakers in Chicago’s Logan Square and Little Village neighborhoods were caught up in an immigration enforcement operation when federal agents deployed what appeared to be tear gas near Funston Elementary School and a nearby play café. Associated Press reporters spoke with parents, teachers, and staff who described panic, coughing, and kids sheltering in back rooms.
After complaints that agents ignored a standing order limiting force, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis ordered U.S. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino to appear in court to explain the use of tear gas during “Operation Midway Blitz.” CBS Chicago and WBEZ report the hearing focused on whether agents violated the court’s warning-and-restraint requirements.
What officials say vs. what witnesses say
Department of Homeland Security officials say agents responded to protesters who were obstructing the operation and that force was aimed at dispersing a crowd, not at children. Parents, teachers, and café workers told AP/ABC there was no audible warning before canisters popped, and that families with toddlers and strollers were in the immediate area.
Multiple Chicago schools used “soft lockdowns” and kept students indoors as immigration actions continued across the city. Some board members pushed for remote options while operations remained active.
Earlier this year, the administration rolled back “sensitive-location” limits that historically kept immigration enforcement away from schools, hospitals, and churches. Senators have urged a return to those protections, warning of harm to students and community trust.
Using riot-control agents near schools raises child-safety, civil-liberties, and due-process concerns. If federal force policies allow crowd-control chemicals around children in non-riot conditions, courts and Congress may revisit rules of engagement and reinstate “sensitive-location” restraints. Communities are asking for transparency: what was the imminent threat, who authorized gas, and where are the warnings on tape.
What to watch next
Judge Ellis’s written order or any sanctions after Bovino’s appearance.
Body-worn camera or surveillance releases that show warnings (or lack of them).
Whether DHS reinstates school-zone limits on enforcement or issues new guidance.