How Elite Agents Use High-Risk Military Tactics in Chicago Raids | WSJ

Key Concepts

• Operation Midway Blitz: A Trump Administration initiative involving federal law enforcement agents reassigned to increase deportation operations in the greater Chicago area.
• BORTAC (Border Patrol Tactical Unit): Elite Border Patrol officers who train with US special forces, typically handling drug interdictions and fugitive tracking.
• SRT (Customs and Border Protection Special Response Team): A specialized unit within CBP.
• Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT): A maneuver where a law enforcement vehicle strikes the rear panel of a suspect's vehicle to stop it. Banned by many police departments, including Chicago PD, due to risks.
• Use of Force: Tactics employed by law enforcement, including physical restraint, chemical irritants, and vehicle maneuvers.
• Military-Style Tactics: Methods and equipment typically used by military forces, such as helicopter rappelling and tactical formations.
• Friendly Fire: Accidental injury or death caused by one's own forces.
• Chemical Irritant/Tear Gas: Substances used to incapacitate or disperse crowds.
• Court Order: A judicial directive that limits certain actions, in this case, federal agents' use of force.

Operation Midway Blitz and Tactics Deployed

Since the commencement of the Trump Administration's "Operation Midway Blitz" in the fall, hundreds of federal law enforcement agents have been redeployed to bolster deportation operations in the greater Chicago area. An analysis of videos and photos by The Wall Street Journal revealed the deployment of high-risk maneuvers, use of force, and military-style tactics by some elite unit officers against civilians.

Case Study: South Side Apartment Building Raid

In late September, a five-story apartment building on Chicago's South Side was the target of a clearance operation involving hundreds of agents. The operation featured SWAT teams arriving in BearCat vehicles, with scores of agents securing the perimeter. A Blackhawk helicopter hovered overhead, and an agent descended via rope, a tactic typically reserved for elite forces in challenging terrains. Agents from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) were also involved. Former federal agents and military personnel reviewed the footage and deemed the operation excessive, noting that entering a building from two sides increases the risk of friendly fire.

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Statement: Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokeswoman, stated that the raid resulted in the arrest of two members of "Tren de Aragua" and a U.S. citizen with an active warrant, who was then turned over to the Chicago PD.

Case Study: PIT Maneuver Incident

In mid-October, also on Chicago's South Side, federal agents were observed pursuing a vehicle on 105th Street, allegedly driven by an undocumented person. Security camera footage captured a federal agent's white vehicle striking the rear panel of the suspect's red car. This maneuver, known as a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT), has been banned by numerous police departments, including the Chicago PD. A 2023 Department of Justice-funded report highlighted the significant risks associated with PIT, recommending its prohibition except under very specific circumstances.

• DHS Statement on PIT Incident: A DHS spokeswoman indicated that Border Patrol agents initiated the pursuit after the driver rammed their vehicle.

Protest and Use of Force During PIT Incident

Following the PIT maneuver and crash, a crowd of protestors gathered. BORTAC agents, identifiable by their vest patches, were deployed. Federal agents and protestors clashed. Photos from the scene depicted an arrest where a Customs and Border Protection Special Response Team (SRT) agent knelt on a protestor while other agents maintained a defensive, box-like formation. As the subject was moved, an officer deployed a canister of chemical irritant to control the crowd. Former federal agents interviewed by The Journal suggested that such tactical arrest procedures should be reserved for dangerous situations involving armed or violent subjects or bystanders.

Further Allegations of Excessive Force and Violation of Court Order

Bystander videos from across the greater Chicago area also captured instances of federal agents allegedly using excessive force. On October 23rd, in the Little Village neighborhood, footage showed Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino, who oversees immigration enforcement in the city, throwing a tear gas canister towards a crowd. This action was reportedly in violation of a prior court order that limited federal agents' use of force.

• DHS Response to Tear Gas Incident: In response to criticism, DHS stated that agents had warned the crowd to back up and that chemical munitions were used in accordance with CBP policy.

Leadership Shakeup and Future Enforcement Trends

In late October, following a shakeup in DHS leadership, several Border Patrol officials were transferred to ICE. Department officials suggest that this shift indicates that the more aggressive immigration enforcement observed in Chicago is likely to become the standard.

• DHS Statement on Force Policy: In response to The Journal's reporting, a DHS spokeswoman reiterated that ICE and CBP officers are trained to use the minimum force necessary to resolve dangerous situations, prioritizing the safety of the public and themselves.

Synthesis and Conclusion

The provided transcript details allegations of aggressive and potentially excessive tactics employed by federal law enforcement agents during "Operation Midway Blitz" in Chicago. The report highlights the use of military-style maneuvers, the PIT technique (which is banned by local law enforcement), and the deployment of chemical irritants, even in situations that some former agents deemed not to warrant such force. The involvement of elite units like BORTAC and SRT, along with the alleged violation of a court order limiting the use of force, raises significant concerns about the methods being used in immigration enforcement operations. The DHS maintains that its agents are trained to use appropriate force and prioritize safety, but the evidence presented suggests a pattern of tactics that are drawing scrutiny and criticism.