Minister Praises Court Limits on Federal Use of Force
U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis issued a preliminary injunction restricting tactics that federal agents under the Trump administration can employ to suppress protests against immigration enforcement. The ruling was hailed by activists as a move toward protecting civil liberties.
“I’m so grateful for the ruling,” said the Rev. David Black of First Presbyterian Church of Chicago. “And I also have this feeling that it’s such a small piece of the big picture of what still needs to happen.”
Black, who had been struck by pepperballs fired by federal agents during a peaceful demonstration outside the immigration processing center in Broadview, welcomed the court’s action as a sign of accountability but voiced concern that officials could resort to more violent measures, including live ammunition.
Judge Ellis stated the federal agents’ aggression during deportation operations in Chicago “shocks the conscience.” Her order closely parallels a previous injunction preventing officers from deploying so-called “riot control” weapons against individuals who are not an immediate threat and mandating two verbal warnings before any use of force.
“[The] court ruling makes clear the Trump Administration must respect these fundamental American freedoms,” Governor JB Pritzker posted on X. “Illinois follows the law, and federal agents must do the same.”
Pritzker commended the decision for reinforcing the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly amid ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement practices.
Author’s Summary
Judge Ellis’s injunction curbing aggressive federal tactics was praised by Rev. Black and Gov. Pritzker as a crucial defense of peaceful protest and constitutional freedoms.