Illinois judge blocks federal authorities from using force against Chicago journalists

[Thiệu Ngô]

Chicago journalists and protesters sued senior administration officials this week, arguing that the government had prevented them from using their First Amendment rights.

By Gregory Svirnovskiy

A federal judge in Illinois has barred federal agents from using force or threatening to arrest journalists in Chicago, as the White House continues to send troops to the city amid President Donald Trump’s national street crime crackdown.

The temporary restraining order came just days after Chicago journalists and protesters sued senior White House officials, including Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, arguing that the government had prevented “the press, elected officials, religious leaders, and civilians engaged in peaceful protest from exercising their First Amendment rights.”

Videos have circulated in recent days of federal agents shooting tear gas and other “riot control weapons” at protesters — and, city officials say, toward officers from the Chicago Police Department — in response to demonstrations throughout the city.

The temporary restraining order, issued by district court judge Sara L. Ellis, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, also blocks Trump administration authorities from requiring journalists to leave public spaces and using riot control weapons on the press, protesters or clergy “who are not posing an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer or others.”

Over the objections of state and local officials, Trump deployed Texas National Guard troops to Illinois. He suggested Wednesday on Truth Social that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker should be sent to jail for their failure to protect ICE officials.

Also on Monday, Illinois and Chicago sued to stop the administration from deploying National Guard troops to the city. A decision on that lawsuit is expected imminently.

“I looked at crime numbers in Chicago, they’re through the roof,” Trump said at a cabinet meeting Thursday. “And I have a governor who stands up every day and tells us how wonderful Chicago is. It’s just a lie. It’s like a con job.”

The White House directed POLITICO to the Department of Homeland Security for comment. In a statement, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said “we remind members of the media to exercise caution as they cover these violent riots and remind journalists that covering unlawful activities in the field does come with risks — though our officers take every reasonable precaution to mitigate those dangers to those exercising protected First Amendment rights.”

The judge also ordered that federal officials “provide copies of this Order, in either electronic or paper form, no later than 5 p.m. on October 9, 2025 to any individuals scheduled to work at the Broadview ICE Facility on October 10, 2025.”