A federal judge has warned that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents involved in Operation Midway Blitz could be forced to surrender their personal phones as part of a lawsuit brought by Illinois and Chicago challenging the legality of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics in Chicago.
U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis raised concerns that federal agents used personal devices for official communications, potentially leaving gaps in the records of the operation.
Ellis has not ordered agents to surrender their phones. She is scheduled to rule on November 17 on the administration’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, and any further examination of agents’ personal devices would depend on whether the case moves forward.
Judge questions ICE agents’ use of personal phones during official operation
Ellis warned that Department of Homeland Security employees, including ICE agents who participated in the operation, might have to surrender their devices for examination…