* The Associated Press…

A judge on Tuesday ordered a senior U.S. Border Patrol official to meet her each evening to discuss the government’s immigration crackdown in the Chicago area, an extraordinary step following weeks of street confrontations, tear gas volleys and complaints of excessive force.

“Yes, ma’am,” responded Greg Bovino, who has become the face of the Trump administration’s immigration sweeps in America’s big cities.

Bovino got an earful from U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis as soon as he settled into the witness chair in his green uniform.

Ellis quickly expressed concerns about video and other images from an illegal immigration drive that has produced more than 1,800 arrests since September. The hearing is the latest in a lawsuit by news outlets and protesters who say agents have used too much force, including tear gas, during demonstrations.

* The Tribune…

Ellis began by telling Bovino her role “is not to tell you that you can or can’t enforce validly passed laws by Congress…my role is simply to see that in the enforcement of those laws that you …are acting in the manner that is consistent with your obligation under the law.”

The judge said that since she’s sure Bovino would not simply ignore a court order, the only explanation for what she’s been seeing on videos sent to her by the plaintiffs is that her order is simply not clear enough. “So I thought it would be a really good idea to go through it so that we are on the same page,” she said.

Ellis then began reading her restraining order directly to Bovino, who sat in the witness box in his green uniform staring back at the judge and nodding.

Part one of the order, Ellis said, essentially ordered Bovino to leave journalists alone. […]

Part two ordered that Bovino and his agents cannot use tear gas or other munitions on residents who are not a danger to law enforcement.

* Block Club Chicago…

“Kids dressed in Halloween costumes walking to a parade do not pose an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer,” U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino during a court hearing Tuesday morning. “They just don’t. And you can’t use riot-control weapons against them.”

The judge was referring to incidents over the weekend, when federal agents unleashed chemical irritants on Chicago residents for the fourth day in a row, including at two separate locations in Old Irving Park and Avondale, according to witnesses and rapid response teams.

The incident in Old Irving Park happened just before dozens of costumed kids planned to march down the street in a Halloween parade.

“You may not be familiar with all of the different neighborhoods in Chicago,” the judge said. “Old Irving Park is a fairly quiet neighborhood [with] a lot of families, a lot of single family homes. And these kids, you can imagine their sense of safety was shattered on Saturday. And it’s going to take a long time for that to come back, if ever.”

* CBS Chicago…

Bovino did not speak often in court, choosing instead to answer Ellis’ questions simply and in a straightforward manner. He testified that finding one place for CBP agents to display identifying information would be difficult because equipment is worn in different places, but agreed when Ellis said they could pick two standard places to make it simpler. He testified the vast majority of agents have body-worn cameras, but he does not. He agreed to bring himself and his agent into compliance with that part of the order by Friday.

When asked about the clashes in Little Village in which he was caught on camera throwing tear gas, he responded that “it’s dependent on the situation” and said “I don’t know what other factors were present there.” […]

Judge Ellis ordered Bovino to meet with her daily at 6 p.m. to find out how the day went. The meetings must be in person. She also ordered him to provide her with a chart of everyone who has been arrested during Operation Midway Blitz who has not been arrested for anything immigration-related by Friday.

To clarify, she said she is “not interested in Home Depot arrests,” but instead arrests of members of the public that are watching their actions and others who have been arrested by agents.

She required Bovino to provide names, dates of arrest, charges and resolutions. Names will be kept under seal.

* WTTW…

During the confrontation in Little Village, “Bovino was apparently the first federal agent to throw a tear gas cannister into the crowd,” according to lawyers for the Headline Club. “Defendant Bovino did not give any audible warnings before doing so and the crowd was not being violent or committing any crimes at the time he threw the tear gas cannisters.” […]

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin referred to the group of Little Village residents who confronted agents — which included several elected officials including Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward) — as “rioters.” […]

“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. Border Patrol agents repeated multiple warnings to back up and that chemical agents would be deployed if warnings were ignored. Riot control measures were deployed, including by Chief Bovino, and arrests were made. Agents properly used their training. The use of chemical munitions was conducted in full accordance with (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) policy and was necessary to ensure the safety of both law enforcement and the public.”

Lawyers for the Headline Club said the statement by federal officials “was a lie.”

* WGN…

Ellis asked Bovino directly if he has a body-worn camera.

“I have not yet received a body-worn camera, nor the training,” Bovino answered.

The judge then told Bovino to get one by Friday.

“The camera is your friend,” Ellis said. “If someone is throwing a rock at your head, the camera will catch it.”

* Sun-Times…

Ellis says that, given her chat with Bovino today, “I don’t know that we’re going to see a whole lot of tear gas being deployed over the next week.” […]

So the judge is not granting the motion to ban the use of tear gas. But she’s not denying it, either. She’s keeping it in her back pocket.

“I know my lane,” she said. “And I will stay in my lane. But I’m also not afraid to enforce this TRO. If they are using tear gas, they better be able to back it up. And if they can’t, then they will lose that as something they can use.”

Ellis continued, “Halloween is on Friday. I do not want to get violation reports from the plaintiffs that show that agents are out and about on Halloween, where kids are present and tear gas is being deployed.”