CHICAGO — A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security and its agents, sharply curbing the use of force and crowd-control tactics during federal operations in Illinois following a week of unrest and detentions linked to the Trump administration’s expanded immigration raids.
In a ruling filed Thursday, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis of the Northern District of Illinois sided with the Chicago Headline Club and other plaintiffs, who argued that federal officers had violated the constitutional rights of journalists, protesters, and religious leaders during recent enforcement actions near the Broadview ICE Detention Center outside Chicago.
The order temporarily bars federal agents from dispersing, arresting, or threatening journalists who are lawfully reporting, and prohibits the use of riot-control weapons—including tear gas, pepper spray, and kinetic impact projectiles—against members of the press, peaceful protesters, or religious practitioners who pose no immediate threat.
Judge Ellis further ordered DHS to identify its agents visibly and circulate the ruling to all personnel involved in ongoing operations by 5 p.m. Thursday, citing “credible evidence of unconstitutional conduct.”
“The Court finds that Plaintiffs have met their burden to support the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order,” the ruling states, adding that the actions of federal officers had “a chilling effect on free expression and press freedom.”
The 14-day order also requires DHS and other federal agencies to file updated guidance within five business days outlining how agents will comply.
The ruling follows days of nationwide attention after incidents in Illinois sparked outrage—among them the alleged shooting of a Chicago minister with a pepper-ball projectile and the detainment of U.S. citizens during ICE raids. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have both condemned the administration’s tactics and filed a separate lawsuit challenging what they call “unconstitutional military occupation” of their state.
Civil-rights advocates hailed Wednesday’s ruling as a significant check on federal overreach. The ACLU of Illinois called it “a victory for the First Amendment and the right to witness and report government action.”
The Justice Department has not yet said whether it will appeal.
