Judge Blocks Trump Admin From Using Force Against Journalists in Chicago

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Oct 09, 2025 at 03:05 PM EDT updated Oct 09, 2025 at 05:29 PM EDT


A judge in Illinois has blocked the Trump administration from using force against journalists after a lawsuit accused federal agents of using tear gas against reporters covering the anti-ICE protests in Chicago.

Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughin wrote in a statement to Newsweek, "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."

Why It Matters

Journalists covering ongoing protests at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility near Chicago have sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over alleged use of force against reporters covering the protest.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis handed down a temporary restraining order prohibiting the use of force against journalists in the latest ruling against the executive branch.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/judge-blocks-trump-admin-from-using-force-against-journalists-in-chicago-10856239

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Link to ORDER (PDF) - https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ilnd.487571/gov.uscourts.ilnd.487571.42.0_4.pdf

RELATED - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143543855

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Does anyone trust drumpf to send the National Guard back to Texas?

I don't.

[Bluetus]

3. The order does not mandate that.

They can remain in Illinois as long as they please. But they can't do any of the actions enumerated by the Judge, so they might as well go home.

Trump will try to appeal, If that is unsuccessful, then they will quietly disperse and the media will act like nothing ever happened.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Illinois judge blocks federal authorities from using force against Chicago journalists

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

Illinois judge blocks federal authorities from using force against Chicago journalists www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

— Tom Jones (@earl2.bsky.social) 2025-10-09T20:47:33.521Z

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/09/chicago-journalists-ice-lawsuit-00600209

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.”