Chicago’s immigration enforcement campaign by federal authorities has drawn sharp criticism from a former top U.S. Department of Homeland Security official. Gil Kerlikowske, who served as Customs and Border Protection commissioner from 2014 to 2017, is closely monitoring the situation and has voiced serious concerns about the methods used by Border Patrol agents in the city.
Kerlikowske, who previously spent eight years as Seattle police chief overseeing large-scale protests, provided a sworn statement for a lawsuit filed by the state of Illinois. The lawsuit challenges the Trump administration’s plan to deploy National Guard troops as part of an intensified immigration enforcement campaign in Chicago. In a detailed interview with WBEZ, Kerlikowske shared his observations and evaluations of how federal agents are conducting operations in urban environments.
Story Highlights:
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Former DHS commissioner Gil Kerlikowske critiques Chicago immigration enforcement by Border Patrol.
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Experts question the suitability of Border Patrol agents for city-based law enforcement.
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Allegations of indiscriminate use of pepper balls and tear gas against protesters in Broadview.
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Border Patrol leadership described as unorganized compared to Illinois State Police.
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Concerns raised about urban deployment of federal agents and public safety.
Kerlikowske stressed the stark difference between urban policing and federal border operations.
“If you’re a local police officer, such as a Chicago police officer, you go through months and months of training at an academy,” he said. “Afterward, you are paired with senior officers and evaluated on how you deal with the public, your response to calls, and overall situational judgment. It is vastly different from the training Border Patrol agents receive.”
He added, “Border Patrol training, such as at the academy in Artesia, New Mexico, focuses on detecting people smuggling and illegal crossings in rugged terrain—rocks, canyons, deserts—not managing crowds in a city.”
Kerlikowske has watched video footage of clashes at a federal immigration enforcement facility in Broadview, a suburb west of Chicago, and described the scene as concerning.
“I didn’t hear any orders to disperse,” he explained. “Neither did the people protesting. What I saw was Border Patrol agents and other federal officers coming out of a fenced area and using what is called less lethal force, indiscriminately.”
When asked about the type of force used, Kerlikowske detailed,
“The majority of what I observed was the use of pepper balls. These are very hard plastic projectiles filled with oleoresin capsicum powder. When the plastic breaks, the powder disperses, causing eyes to water, coughing, and choking. Pepper balls are supposed to be fired at the ground, near walls, or at individuals trying to enter illegally. In Broadview, however, they were targeted directly at people—a completely unnecessary use of force.”
Kerlikowske also criticized the deployment of tear gas.
“Tear gas canisters don’t disperse people effectively. They can even be thrown back. There didn’t seem to be any strategic reason for their use. This is not how professional law enforcement, like the Illinois State Police, would operate,” he said.
The Border Patrol operation in Chicago is led by Commander Gregory Bovino, recently transferred from a district near California’s border with Mexico. Kerlikowske described the operation under Bovino’s leadership as uncoordinated.
“The agents move in a rag-tag, ambling fashion,” he said. “Orders such as ‘Light them up’ were given, allowing agents to strike people with pepper balls. I also saw instances where people were picked up and body-slammed to the concrete and then left unattended. In local police operations, this level of force would require arrests and formal use-of-force reporting.”
In comparison, Kerlikowske noted that Illinois State Police officers, deployed weeks later, demonstrated clear professionalism.
“They are disciplined, carry long batons for crowd control, and operate without masks,” he said. “Their presence communicates authority. People understand the boundaries and respect them. That’s how effective, professional law enforcement should look in urban environments.”
Kerlikowske’s observations have raised questions about the suitability of federal Border Patrol agents for urban immigration enforcement. Critics argue that deploying personnel trained for border operations to cities like Chicago risks unnecessary confrontations with residents and protesters.
As the lawsuit by the state of Illinois progresses, Kerlikowske’s testimony could play a key role in shaping public perception and policy regarding urban immigration enforcement. The debate continues over whether federal forces are adequately prepared for complex city policing.
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