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3h ago

Chicago Newsrooms Sue DHS and ICE Over Force on Reporters as Judge Signals Possible Injunction

Plaintiffs ask the court to halt use of riot-control weapons on clearly identified journalists at Broadview protests.

Federal law enforcement officers throw tear gas at protesters outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building, Sept. 19, 2025, in Broadview. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Overview

  • At an emergency hearing, Judge Sara Ellis said DHS is on notice and indicated she may issue a temporary order as soon as Wednesday limiting pepper-spray bullets and tear gas against peaceful journalists and protesters.
  • The lawsuit alleges federal agents shot, gassed and detained people covering protests at the Broadview ICE facility, citing incidents including reporter Raven Geary being struck by pepper balls despite PRESS markings.
  • The plaintiffs include Block Club Chicago, the Chicago Headline Club, the Illinois Press Association, the Chicago Newspaper Guild Local 34071, NABET and CWA Local 54041, represented pro bono by Loevy & Loevy and the ACLU of Illinois.
  • Federal lawyers argued agents are being doxxed, but Ellis responded that transparency is required and that public officials do not get to do their jobs anonymously.
  • DHS says Operation Midway Blitz has led to about 1,000 arrests in the Chicago area since early September, and Block Club reports four of its journalists were hit with pepper-spray bullets or tear gas while reporting at Broadview.