type: timeline_event
On November 6, 2025, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis issued a devastating preliminary injunction against Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and federal immigration enforcement agents in Chicago, explicitly finding that Bovino "admitted that he lied" about the October 23, 2025 tear gas incident in Little Village. The judge's 39-page ruling found that federal agents repeatedly used force that "shocks the conscience" and then systematically lied about their actions, imposing sweeping restrictions on immigration enforcement tactics in the Chicago area.
The Central Finding: Bovino Lied Under Oath
Judge Ellis's ruling included an extraordinary rebuke of a federal law enforcement commander for perjury. The court found:
"Defendant Bovino admitted that he lied" about being hit by a rock before deploying tear gas in Little Village on October 23, 2025.
The sequence of events Judge Ellis established: 1. Bovino threw tear gas canister at protesters first 2. Video evidence showed no rock hitting Bovino before the tear gas deployment 3. Government initially claimed Bovino was hit by rock before throwing tear gas (to justify force) 4. In deposition testimony, Bovino admitted he was hit (if at all) after throwing the tear gas 5. Bovino's admission directly contradicted DHS's official justification for the tear gas use
Judge Ellis stated: "I find the government's evidence to be simply not credible."
Additional Finding: Physical Assault and More Lies
The court also addressed video evidence showing Bovino physically attacking a protester:
Video footage showed that Bovino "obviously attacks and tackles" protester Mr. Blackburn to the ground during the October 23 confrontation. However, Bovino claimed in testimony that "he never used force" against anyone that day.
Judge Ellis rejected this claim as another lie, finding the video evidence clearly contradicted Bovino's sworn statements about not using force.
"The Use of Force Shocks the Conscience"
Judge Ellis's ruling went beyond individual incidents to characterize the broader pattern of federal agent behavior during Operation Midway Blitz:
"The use of force shocks the conscience" — invoking the constitutional standard for egregious government conduct that violates due process.
The judge found that federal immigration enforcement agents had:
Judge Ellis delivered a particularly pointed rebuke of the government's legal position:
"It is difficult to conceive how an injunction requiring the government to comply with the Constitution could possibly be harmful."
This statement rejected DHS arguments that restrictions on force would hamper immigration enforcement, essentially finding that if constitutional compliance hampers enforcement, then the enforcement tactics themselves are unconstitutional.
The Preliminary Injunction Requirements
Judge Ellis issued comprehensive restrictions on federal immigration enforcement tactics in Chicago, converting her temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction that would remain in effect pending trial:
Tear Gas and Chemical Agents:
Body-Worn Cameras:
Clear Identification:
Protection of Journalists:
Protection of Clergy and Religious Workers:
Government Response: "Activist Judge"
The Department of Homeland Security immediately rejected Judge Ellis's findings and vowed to appeal. A DHS spokesperson called the injunction "an extreme act by an activist judge" and argued that restrictions on force would hamper immigration enforcement operations.
This response notably did not dispute Judge Ellis's finding that Bovino had lied under oath, nor did it address her finding that the use of force "shocks the conscience." Instead, DHS characterized judicial oversight of constitutional violations as "activism."
Connection to ICE Leadership Purge
The timing of Judge Ellis's ruling was significant. Just nine days earlier (October 28, 2025), news had broken that Gregory Bovino was vetting replacements for 12 ICE field directors being purged by the Trump administration. The government had specifically chosen an official facing contempt proceedings and accused of violating court orders to select new ICE leadership.
Judge Ellis's November 6 finding that Bovino had lied under oath came after this selection process had already begun, yet there were no indications the administration would remove him from the vetting role. To the contrary, Bovino remained in his "Commander-at-Large" position and continued leading enforcement operations.
Unprecedented Judicial Rebuke
Judge Ellis's ruling represents an extraordinary judicial finding against a sitting federal law enforcement commander:
Federal judges rarely make such direct findings of dishonesty against government officials, particularly senior law enforcement commanders. The language Judge Ellis used—stating plainly that Bovino lied and that the government's evidence lacks credibility—signals a breakdown in the court's trust in federal agents' testimony.
Pattern of Defiance
The preliminary injunction capped a month-long escalation:
Each step showed Bovino and federal agents either defying court orders or lying about their compliance, leading to progressively more severe judicial intervention.
Significance
This ruling establishes that: 1. Federal law enforcement commanders can and will be found to have committed perjury when evidence contradicts their testimony 2. Use of force against protesters can violate constitutional standards even in immigration enforcement context 3. Courts will impose comprehensive restrictions on federal agents who systematically violate rights 4. Government claims that constitutional compliance is "harmful" will be rejected as invalid legal arguments
Most critically, the ruling demonstrates that even explicit judicial findings of perjury and constitutional violations do not result in removal from authority—Bovino continued in his role selecting ICE leadership despite a federal judge finding he lied under oath. This represents a fundamental breakdown in accountability for federal law enforcement misconduct.