U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey in the Northern District of Illinois issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) barring federal agents from using force, riot control weapons, or threats of arrest against journalists and legal observers covering protests in Chicago.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed earlier this week by a coalition of Chicago-based journalists, legal aid groups, and civil rights advocates against senior Trump administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Tae Johnson. The order is effective immediately and lasts for 14 days, unless extended by the court.
The decision arises amid escalating tensions in Chicago over President Donald Trump's "national street crime crackdown," which has involved deploying federalized National Guard troops and ICE agents to quell what the administration describes as "violent riots and lawlessness." Protests have centered on immigration enforcement actions, particularly at the ICE Detention Center in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago.
On September 19, 2025, federal agents were filmed using tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray on crowds, including credentialed journalists who were clearly identified and not participating in any unlawful activity.
Journalist @mulchy_ of @Chicago_Reader was deliberately targeted by federal law enforcement with a crowd-control munition and chemical irritants while covering protests outside the ICE facility in Broadview, IL, on Sept. 26.https://t.co/dBRwW6qoK8
— U.S. Press Freedom Tracker (@uspresstracker) October 9, 2025
The Lawsuit: Filed on October 7, 2025, in federal court in Chicago, the suit (captioned Chicago Free Press v. Noem) alleges violations of the First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, and due process rights. Plaintiffs include reporters from outlets like the Chicago Tribune, WBEZ, and independent journalists, as well as the National Lawyers Guild's Chicago chapter.
Details of the Ruling Judge Blakey, a Barack Obama appointee, granted the TRO after an emergency hearing on October 8, 2025. Key provisions include:
Prohibitions:
- Federal officers (including ICE, DHS, and National Guard personnel) are barred from:Using "riot control agents" (e.g., tear gas, pepper spray) or "less-lethal munitions" (e.g., rubber bullets, flash-bang grenades) against identifiable journalists or legal observers.
- Employing "physical force" or "threats of arrest" to deter reporting, unless there's an "imminent threat" to officer safety.
- Interfering with "clearly identified" press activities within "public view" of protest sites.