A federal judge ordered federal agencies to be more selective in their use of tear gas and other riot control tools to combat protests that have raged in Illinois.
Judge Sara Ellis, an Obama appointee to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, issued a temporary restraining order saying agents cannot order crowds to disperse from public areas unless there are “exigent circumstances.”
And she forbade use of crowd control munitions like tear gas, noise and light devices and less lethal shotguns unless agents detect an immediate threat to someone’s physical safety.
She ordered officers to give at least two warnings before deploying the tactics and give enough time for people to respond.
Judge Ellis also forbade shoving or tackling protesters to the ground unless they pose an immediate threat of physical harm — and unless officers must do it to make a lawful arrest.
The case was brought by journalists who complained they were manhandled by federal officers during protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities.
Justice Department lawyers objected to the judge’s intervention, saying federal officers need leeway to make decisions while doing their jobs.
Immigration agents described for the court having to run a gantlet to reach the ICE facility in Chicago’s suburbs that’s been the scene of protests. One tactic among protesters involves leaping on the hood of a vehicle, another moving to stand behind the vehicle so it’s boxed in, then others rushing forward to slash the tires.
Clashes with crowds have left 30 officers with injuries.
Local police have refused to assist in crowd control, though state police are now involved to some extent.
The challengers said they were asking for the same rules that a court imposed on federal agents in Los Angeles, the scene of anti-ICE riots this summer.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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