Feds march into downtown Chicago; top border agent says people are arrested based on 'how they look'

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

 
Dozens of federal agents took individuals into custody during a winding patrol Sunday through downtown Chicago, and a top U.S. Border Patrol official told WBEZ the agents were arresting people based on “how they look.”

The agents, clad in military-style fatigues, roamed past some of Chicago’s most well-known landmarks on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The highly visible show of force came just three days after Border Patrol boats carrying armed officers appeared on the Chicago River.

Gregory Bovino, commander at large of the border force, contrasted the people being arrested with a white WBEZ reporter, saying agents consider a person’s appearance before taking them into custody

“You know, there’s many different factors that go into something like that,” Bovino said. “It would be agent experience, intelligence that indicates there’s illegal aliens in a particular place or location.

“Then, obviously, the particular characteristics of an individual, how they look. How do they look compared to, say, you?” he said to the reporter, a tall, middle-aged man of Anglo descent.


https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/09/28/ice-agents-spotted-downtown-on-michigan-avenue-along-chicago-river

[zorbasd]

1. Yup, and the 6 of 9 corrupt fascists in judicial robes

say its unconstitutionally constitutional.

[flashman13]

5. Existing while brown or black is now probable cause.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I can remember when racial profiling was illegal and America believed in equality.

[Jim__]

3. "How they look" to a particular ICE agent? Probable cause? The Ice agent felt like it.

[Initech]

4. The real people who should be arrested are ICE agents and Tom Homan.

Fuck ICE!

[BradBo]

6. SCOTOS allowed this.

[popsdenver]

7. Question

Were the Armed Agents on the River Patrol boats thinking that the immigrants were gonna swim across the Chicago river to get to the U.S.??????

LOL LOL LOL

[SamKnause]

8. Fuck the fascists on the Supreme Court.

They are to blame for many of the horrible policies and laws that have been passed.

I don't care if they say a corporation is a person. It is not.

I don't care how many times they say money is speech. It is not.

The Supreme Court has been on the wrong side of the people many times.

They enabled the republicans.

Now they are enabling the MAGAS.

[SergeStorms]

9. Time to put on.....

my serape and sombrero and walk around downtown Chicago.
My Scandinavian ancestors have been in the U.S. since 1728. I'm a Son of the American Revolution. My great-great-great-great grandfather was encamped with Gen. George Washington at Valley Forge.
BRING IT!

[leftyladyfrommo]

16. Be careful. These Ice maniacs don't have a sense of humor.

You and your sombrero could disappear for years.

Unfortunately that isn't a joke anymore.

[SergeStorms]

22. The blonde hair and blue eyes....

along with my pasty-white skin, would probably give me away, but your point is well taken. The fact that these government thugs all wear masks and don't identify themselves doesn't make things any easier, does it. 🤔

[AverageOldGuy]

10. ". . . how they look. . . . "

Does he mean looks like a former Marine and he's driving a big-ass pickup adorned with American and Trump flags??? With an AR-15 and a dozen 20-round magazines, all loaded?? And a pistol strapped on his hip??? And his face hidden??


Shit, if he stopped those people, he would arrest his entire GEstapo gang.

[Marthe48]

15. I.c.e. thugs assault women, children

babies, old people, teens. They are chickenshits who are afraid of getting hurt.

[GoCubsGo]

21. It's also performative bullshit on top of the chickenshittery.

They're Downtown on a Sunday after the tourism season has wound down---a day when nobody is around, and everyone is at home watching the Bears and other sports. Meanwhile, there are entire neighborhoods of the people of the shades they want to go after elsewhere in the city. Yet, they're not there. Why not? Because they're too fucking scared to go into those neighborhoods? They'd rather stand around looking like tough guys in a place where they know they'll be safe.

[tanyev]

11. Then ICE agents who take U.S. citizens into custody because of how they look should be personally liable

in any lawsuits that are filed.

[sakabatou]

12. So they're using the card from Family Guy now?

[Ping Tung]

13. Masked men roaming the streets with rifles "look" like criminals. Workers looking for, or going to, a job don't.

Last edited Mon Sep 29, 2025, 02:37 PM - Edit history (1)

Even the ones who aren't white enough.

[KS Toronado]

19. Was wondering if they were wearing masks

Maybe Chicago or Illinois should hurry up and pass a "no masks" policy like California did.

[quakerboy]

14. And what are the local PD and government doing about it?

Are they protecting the residents of their city, or are they stepping aside in the face of an invading military, or are they doing their best to quietly help the invading force?

[Evolve Dammit]

17. So fucking insulting and deliberately provocative. He wants Insurrection Act/ Martial Law to be invoked ASAP.

[GoodRaisin]

18. This was easily predictable.

Yet many Latinos voted for him anyway.

[Torchlight]

20. Seems law enforcement might do better focusing on American religious violence these days

The recent surge of religious-motivated violence and sectarian attacks is a clear threat; far more (I'd think) than some guy with brown skin looking for an honest day's work.