Jason Meisner
@jmetr22b.bsky.social
Chicago Tribune reporter covering the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse and criminal justice issues in Chicago.
Chicago police release redacted video of Brighton Park shooting by immigration agent www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/14/c...
Chicago police release redacted video of ICE Brighton Park shooting
The Chicago Police Department on Friday released 13 heavily redacted body camera videos depicting the initial response to a crash and shooting in Brighton Park involving federal immigration agents …
www.chicagotribune.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Chicago police release redacted video of Brighton Park shooting by immigration agent www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/14/c...
JUST IN: As of 5 p.m., 10 of 13 immigration arrestees who were ordered released by Friday by a federal judge in Chicago were confirmed to be out on bond, attorneys tell me. They were still awaiting word on the other three, who are in custody out of state. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/14/o...
Only 2.6% on list of 614 ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ arrestees had criminal histories, DOJ records show
Meanwhile, the other 598 people on the list had no listed criminal history at all.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:30 PM
JUST IN: As of 5 p.m., 10 of 13 immigration arrestees who were ordered released by Friday by a federal judge in Chicago were confirmed to be out on bond, attorneys tell me. They were still awaiting word on the other three, who are in custody out of state. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/14/o...
DEVELOPING: The DOJs own data, provided as part of an ongoing lawsuit, appeared to show only about 2.5% of 614 people arrested by ICE on immigration violations in the Chicago area before Oct. 7 had criminal histories
Story here:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/14/o...
Story here:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/14/o...
Only 2.5% on list of 614 ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ arrestees had criminal histories, DOJ records show
Meanwhile, the other 598 people on the list had no listed criminal history at all.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:44 PM
DEVELOPING: The DOJs own data, provided as part of an ongoing lawsuit, appeared to show only about 2.5% of 614 people arrested by ICE on immigration violations in the Chicago area before Oct. 7 had criminal histories
Story here:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/14/o...
Story here:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/14/o...
JUST IN: DOJ releases the names of 614 people whose Chicago-area immigration arrests may have violated a 2022 consent decree.
Only 16 of them have criminal histories that present a “high public safety risk” the DOJ's own info says. And no murderers
Background:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/f...
Only 16 of them have criminal histories that present a “high public safety risk” the DOJ's own info says. And no murderers
Background:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/f...
Federal judge says he’ll order release of hundreds of Operation Midway Blitz arrestees on bond
A federal judge in Chicago said he plans to grant bond to hundreds of immigrants whose arrests under “Operation Midway Blitz” allegedly violated a consent decree against “warrantl…
www.chicagotribune.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:10 PM
JUST IN: DOJ releases the names of 614 people whose Chicago-area immigration arrests may have violated a 2022 consent decree.
Only 16 of them have criminal histories that present a “high public safety risk” the DOJ's own info says. And no murderers
Background:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/f...
Only 16 of them have criminal histories that present a “high public safety risk” the DOJ's own info says. And no murderers
Background:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/f...
Plaintiffs' respond to the Trump administration's request to halt an injunction restricting the use of force by immigration agents in Chicago.
That first graf is a doozy
"The government's violence against civilians in an American metropolis is unprecedented in modern history."
That first graf is a doozy
"The government's violence against civilians in an American metropolis is unprecedented in modern history."
November 14, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Plaintiffs' respond to the Trump administration's request to halt an injunction restricting the use of force by immigration agents in Chicago.
That first graf is a doozy
"The government's violence against civilians in an American metropolis is unprecedented in modern history."
That first graf is a doozy
"The government's violence against civilians in an American metropolis is unprecedented in modern history."
“It’s 20,000 of them running through my house like we got Saddam Hussein in the closet"
ProPublica highlights the Venezuelans rounded up in the controversial DHS raid on a South Shore apartment building.
Six weeks later, and not one criminal charge: www.propublica.org/article/chic...
ProPublica highlights the Venezuelans rounded up in the controversial DHS raid on a South Shore apartment building.
Six weeks later, and not one criminal charge: www.propublica.org/article/chic...
“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime
Authorities said Tren de Aragua “terrorists” had taken over the building. A ProPublica investigation found little evidence to back up the government’s claims. For the first time, the Venezuelans arres...
www.propublica.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:23 PM
“It’s 20,000 of them running through my house like we got Saddam Hussein in the closet"
ProPublica highlights the Venezuelans rounded up in the controversial DHS raid on a South Shore apartment building.
Six weeks later, and not one criminal charge: www.propublica.org/article/chic...
ProPublica highlights the Venezuelans rounded up in the controversial DHS raid on a South Shore apartment building.
Six weeks later, and not one criminal charge: www.propublica.org/article/chic...
This hearing is about to begin. Kat Abughazaleh and her co-defendants are all expected to plead not guilty and get appearance bonds (no money to post).
She has been smiling at reporters while sitting at the defense table with her attorney, Josh Herman
She has been smiling at reporters while sitting at the defense table with her attorney, Josh Herman
Congressional candidate and digital creator Katherine “Kat” Abughazaleh and five co-defendants will make their first court appearances Wednesday on federal charges of conspiring to block an ICE agent from entering ICE’s facility Broadview.
Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh and 5 others in court today for Broadview ICE protest case
In what several defendants say is a political prosecution, six men and women were charged with blocking a federal agent from entering ICE’s facility in Broadview during a protest in September…
trib.al
November 12, 2025 at 7:19 PM
This hearing is about to begin. Kat Abughazaleh and her co-defendants are all expected to plead not guilty and get appearance bonds (no money to post).
She has been smiling at reporters while sitting at the defense table with her attorney, Josh Herman
She has been smiling at reporters while sitting at the defense table with her attorney, Josh Herman
This decision will ultimately involve more than 3,000 arrests during “Operation Midway Blitz” that the plaintiffs say were unlawful.
The problem is, hundreds of people have already been deported or agreed to voluntary removal as they sat in jail.
No one seems to know how many are still here.
The problem is, hundreds of people have already been deported or agreed to voluntary removal as they sat in jail.
No one seems to know how many are still here.
///BREAKING/// Federal judge says he'll order release of hundreds of 'Operation Midway Blitz' arrestees on bond www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/f...
Federal judge says he’ll order release of hundreds of ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ arrestees on bond
A federal judge in Chicago said he plans to grant bond to hundreds of immigrants whose arrests under “Operation Midway Blitz” allegedly violated a consent decree against “warrantl…
www.chicagotribune.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:54 PM
This decision will ultimately involve more than 3,000 arrests during “Operation Midway Blitz” that the plaintiffs say were unlawful.
The problem is, hundreds of people have already been deported or agreed to voluntary removal as they sat in jail.
No one seems to know how many are still here.
The problem is, hundreds of people have already been deported or agreed to voluntary removal as they sat in jail.
No one seems to know how many are still here.
///BREAKING/// Federal judge says he'll order release of hundreds of 'Operation Midway Blitz' arrestees on bond www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/f...
Federal judge says he’ll order release of hundreds of ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ arrestees on bond
A federal judge in Chicago said he plans to grant bond to hundreds of immigrants whose arrests under “Operation Midway Blitz” allegedly violated a consent decree against “warrantl…
www.chicagotribune.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:45 PM
///BREAKING/// Federal judge says he'll order release of hundreds of 'Operation Midway Blitz' arrestees on bond www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/f...
///BREAKING/// Judge Jeffrey Cummings orders that by noon of Nov. 17, he will order the release of all of the 615 "Operation Midway Blitz" detainees identified as class participants (at least those still here in the country) once they pay a $1,500 bond.
November 12, 2025 at 5:56 PM
///BREAKING/// Judge Jeffrey Cummings orders that by noon of Nov. 17, he will order the release of all of the 615 "Operation Midway Blitz" detainees identified as class participants (at least those still here in the country) once they pay a $1,500 bond.
Good morning from Judge Jeffrey Cumming's courtroom, where he's considering a motion to release 100s of "Midway Blitz" arrestees on EM who were subjected to "warrantless" arrest.
ICE and CBP recently produced a list of 3,300 people arrested since June
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/24/c...
ICE and CBP recently produced a list of 3,300 people arrested since June
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/24/c...
Federal judge appears poised to order release of at least some ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ arrestees
A Chicago federal judge appeared poised Friday to order at least a portion of the thousands of people detained in “Operation Midway Blitz” released on electronic monitoring while litiga…
www.chicagotribune.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Good morning from Judge Jeffrey Cumming's courtroom, where he's considering a motion to release 100s of "Midway Blitz" arrestees on EM who were subjected to "warrantless" arrest.
ICE and CBP recently produced a list of 3,300 people arrested since June
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/24/c...
ICE and CBP recently produced a list of 3,300 people arrested since June
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/24/c...
As Bovino and crew prepare to depart Chicago, Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh and 5 others are due in court today for their first hearing in a politically charged Broadview ICE protest case www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/k...
Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh and 5 others in court today for Broadview ICE protest case
In what several defendants say is a political prosecution, six men and women were charged with blocking a federal agent from entering ICE’s facility in Broadview during a protest in September…
www.chicagotribune.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:53 PM
As Bovino and crew prepare to depart Chicago, Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh and 5 others are due in court today for their first hearing in a politically charged Broadview ICE protest case www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/k...
///BREAKING/// Controversial Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino and a surge of agents appear to be leaving Chicago within days as "Operation Midway Blitz" winds down after two months, sources tell the Tribune.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/f...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/f...
Federal Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino and agents said to be leaving Chicago, sources say
Cmdr. Gregory Bovino was expected to depart Chicago within days, while most Border Patrol agents under this command would soon be redeployed elsewhere, three sources told the Tribune Monday.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:48 AM
///BREAKING/// Controversial Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino and a surge of agents appear to be leaving Chicago within days as "Operation Midway Blitz" winds down after two months, sources tell the Tribune.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/f...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/f...
NEW: The Trump administration asks an appeals court to halt an injunction restricting the use of force in "Operation Midway Blitz," saying Judge Sara Ellis' order is “overbroad and unworkable” and usurps the executive branch’s power to enforce the nation’s laws
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/t...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/t...
Trump administration appeals injunction restricting use of force in ‘Operation Midway Blitz’
The Department of Justice on Monday asked an appeals court to immediately halt Judge Sara Ellis’ preliminary injunction in federal immigration raids, saying her order usurps the executive bra…
www.chicagotribune.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:06 PM
NEW: The Trump administration asks an appeals court to halt an injunction restricting the use of force in "Operation Midway Blitz," saying Judge Sara Ellis' order is “overbroad and unworkable” and usurps the executive branch’s power to enforce the nation’s laws
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/t...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/t...
JUST IN: As promised, the Trump administration is appealing U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis’ preliminary injunction last week restricting the use of tear gas and other force against protesters and media during “Operation Midway Blitz.”
November 9, 2025 at 9:37 PM
JUST IN: As promised, the Trump administration is appealing U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis’ preliminary injunction last week restricting the use of tear gas and other force against protesters and media during “Operation Midway Blitz.”
“Just to go use the bathroom and get something to eat, that’s even a safety concern,” Border Control Cmdr. Greg Bovino told a Tribune photographer Thursday, holding up a Slim Jim in a Gage Park store where he’d just asked a guy buying a soda where he was from.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/b...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/b...
Bovino claims agents operate ‘legally, ethically and morally’ same day injunction issued in court
U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino said federal agents’ operations had been “going very violent” the same day that his agents fired pepper balls at a moving vehicle in Gage Park and pointed ri…
www.chicagotribune.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:02 AM
“Just to go use the bathroom and get something to eat, that’s even a safety concern,” Border Control Cmdr. Greg Bovino told a Tribune photographer Thursday, holding up a Slim Jim in a Gage Park store where he’d just asked a guy buying a soda where he was from.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/b...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/b...
“And having answered so I turn once more to those who sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer”
Judge Ellis today not only denounced the Trump administration’s immigration action, but had biting remarks on its clumsy views of Chicago itself
UPDATE: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/o...
Judge Ellis today not only denounced the Trump administration’s immigration action, but had biting remarks on its clumsy views of Chicago itself
UPDATE: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/o...
‘The use of force shocks the conscience’: Judge issues sweeping injunction on Chicago tactics of immigration agents
The incoming preliminary injunction replaces a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis in early October that was set to expire at 11:30 a.m.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:48 PM
“And having answered so I turn once more to those who sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer”
Judge Ellis today not only denounced the Trump administration’s immigration action, but had biting remarks on its clumsy views of Chicago itself
UPDATE: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/o...
Judge Ellis today not only denounced the Trump administration’s immigration action, but had biting remarks on its clumsy views of Chicago itself
UPDATE: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/o...
Attorney Jon Loevy after today's ruling: "ICE has come to town, they said they were going to go after murderers and rapists, but we all know how that's played out. They are attacking communities. They are grabbing people at work, at Home Depots, people on the street, people with their kids."
November 6, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Attorney Jon Loevy after today's ruling: "ICE has come to town, they said they were going to go after murderers and rapists, but we all know how that's played out. They are attacking communities. They are grabbing people at work, at Home Depots, people on the street, people with their kids."
En Bovino Veritas?
Not according to Judge Sara Ellis, who said today that Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino admittedly lied in his sworn deposition
Watch clips from his testimony here:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/c...
Not according to Judge Sara Ellis, who said today that Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino admittedly lied in his sworn deposition
Watch clips from his testimony here:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/c...
Judge orders release of US Border Patrol head Gregory Bovino deposition videos: Watch them here
The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Public Media petitioned U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis to release the recordings, which were filed under seal as part of a lawsuit led by the Chicago Headline Club.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
En Bovino Veritas?
Not according to Judge Sara Ellis, who said today that Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino admittedly lied in his sworn deposition
Watch clips from his testimony here:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/c...
Not according to Judge Sara Ellis, who said today that Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino admittedly lied in his sworn deposition
Watch clips from his testimony here:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/c...
'The use of force shocks the conscience': Chicago federal judge issues sweeping injunction limiting force by immigration agents in 'Operation Midway Blitz' www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/o...
‘The use of force shocks the conscience’: Chicago federal judge issues sweeping injunction limiting force by immigration agents in ‘Operation Midway Blitz’
The incoming preliminary injunction replaces a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis in early October that was set to expire at 11:30 a.m.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:29 PM
'The use of force shocks the conscience': Chicago federal judge issues sweeping injunction limiting force by immigration agents in 'Operation Midway Blitz' www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/o...
///BREAKING/// A federal judge is issuing an injunction putting more permanent use-of-force restrictions on immigration agents during “Operation Midway Blitz,” saying top government officials lied in their testimony about threats that protesters posed www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/o...
www.chicagotribune.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
///BREAKING/// A federal judge is issuing an injunction putting more permanent use-of-force restrictions on immigration agents during “Operation Midway Blitz,” saying top government officials lied in their testimony about threats that protesters posed www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/o...
FYI this story started with a tip that led to two reporters combing through DUI arrest records in DuPage County, which led to callings lawyers, more reporting and eventually like 15 FOIAs, not to mention the vetting, writing, editing and social media.
So go ahead and complain about paying for it
So go ahead and complain about paying for it
I really wish the @chicagotribune.com would not paywall FOIA-related reporting.
November 6, 2025 at 3:37 AM
FYI this story started with a tip that led to two reporters combing through DUI arrest records in DuPage County, which led to callings lawyers, more reporting and eventually like 15 FOIAs, not to mention the vetting, writing, editing and social media.
So go ahead and complain about paying for it
So go ahead and complain about paying for it
WATCH body cam video of an ICE agent arrested for DUI after his shift at the Broadview facility.
He crashed into some bushes after officers found him asleep at the wheel and knocked on the window.
"Oh this is a fun one,” the officer tells his sergeant.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/i...
He crashed into some bushes after officers found him asleep at the wheel and knocked on the window.
"Oh this is a fun one,” the officer tells his sergeant.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/i...
‘Doesn’t look good’: ICE agent charged with drunken driving after shift at Broadview detention center
An Immigration and Enforcement agent has been charged with drunken driving after his car crashed after a shift at the Broadview detention center.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:10 AM
WATCH body cam video of an ICE agent arrested for DUI after his shift at the Broadview facility.
He crashed into some bushes after officers found him asleep at the wheel and knocked on the window.
"Oh this is a fun one,” the officer tells his sergeant.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/i...
He crashed into some bushes after officers found him asleep at the wheel and knocked on the window.
"Oh this is a fun one,” the officer tells his sergeant.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/i...
Good morning from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, where testimony is about to being in a marathon injunction hearing over use of force by immigration agents in "Operation Midway Blitz."
When it comes to live posting, I'm mostly over on X, but will try here too
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/04/i...
When it comes to live posting, I'm mostly over on X, but will try here too
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/04/i...
www.chicagotribune.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Good morning from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, where testimony is about to being in a marathon injunction hearing over use of force by immigration agents in "Operation Midway Blitz."
When it comes to live posting, I'm mostly over on X, but will try here too
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/04/i...
When it comes to live posting, I'm mostly over on X, but will try here too
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/04/i...
Martinez’s attorney filed a response today blasting the government’s “Karate Kid wax on, wax off narrative” as self-serving.
NEW: Prosecutors say a Border Patrol mechanic in Maine attempted to “wipe off” some scuff marks but did no actual repairs on an immigration agent’s SUV after he shot a woman in Brighton Park last month. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/04/b...
Feds: Border Patrol vehicle tied to woman’s shooting in Brighton Park was buffed with a rag, not repaired
Prosecutors say a Border Patrol mechanic in Maine attempted to “wipe off” some scuff marks but did no actual repairs on an immigration agent’s SUV after he shot a woman in Brighto…
www.chicagotribune.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Martinez’s attorney filed a response today blasting the government’s “Karate Kid wax on, wax off narrative” as self-serving.