Overview
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said agents would be “out on the streets in full force,” rejecting Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s request to pause immigration enforcement during Halloween weekend.
- Pritzker’s letter sought a suspension of operations from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 near homes, schools, parks, hospitals and houses of worship so families could celebrate without fear of tear gas or other crowd-control agents.
- U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis admonished Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino and reiterated that chemical agents should not be used in public residential settings without warnings and an imminent threat.
- Residents say agents used tear gas during an Oct. 25 operation in Old Irving Park and allege a 76-year-old U.S. citizen suffered broken ribs, while DHS says agents were surrounded, issued warnings, deployed crowd-control measures, and arrested two citizens for allegedly assaulting officers.
- DHS says Operation Midway Blitz has produced more than 3,000 arrests, community groups are organizing safe trick-or-treat events, and Illinois lawmakers passed HB 1312 to strengthen sanctuary protections and limit civil arrests in sensitive locations.