Border Patrol commander admitted he lied about tear gas incident, judge says, as she restricts use of force by immigration agents in Chicago

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

57% : The use of chemical munitions was conducted in full accordance with CBP policy and was necessary to ensure the safety of both law enforcement and the public," McLaughlin said in the statement.ABC News has reached out to DHS; about the discrepancy between its account of what happened and the judge's ruling.
23% : The Border Patrol official tasked with leading the Trump administration's immigration enforcement crackdown in Chicago admitted to lying about a rock-throwing incident used to justify deploying tear gas against protesters, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis said Thursday before issuing a preliminary injunction limiting the use of force during immigration arrests and protests.The Oct. 23 incident involving Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, has been a key part of the court proceedings challenging the tactics of immigration agents during the Trump administration's "Operation Midway Blitz," which began in September.Video of the incident showed Bovino throwing a gas canister at demonstrators in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood without giving a verbal warning -- a violation of the judge's earlier temporary restraining order limiting the use of force, the judge said.Senior U.S. Border Patrol official Greg Bovino speaks to Associated Press reporters during an interview Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Rosemont, Ill.
21% : And he ultimately admitted he was not hit until after he threw the tear gas," Ellis said Thursday.At the time of the incident, DHS defended Bovino's actions saying that a Border Patrol transport van transporting undocumented immigrants was attacked by demonstrators."The mob of rioters grew more hostile and violent, advancing toward agents and began throwing rocks and other objects at agents, including one that struck Chief Greg Bovino in the head," Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement after the incident.She said in the statement that Border Patrol agents repeated multiple warnings.Greg Bovino, a roving Border Patrol operations commander who is leading U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in the area, and federal agents patrol the Little Village neighborhood during immigration raids, after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered increased federal law enforcement presence to assist in crime prevention, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., November 6, 2025.

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