Federal Appeals Court Halts Judge’s Wild Ruling Against Border Patrol Chief
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A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked an order issued by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis that required Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino to meet with her in person every weekday evening to discuss enforcement activities in Chicago
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit granted an administrative stay Wednesday following an emergency request from the Department of Justice, which argued that Judge Ellis’s order “far exceeds the recognized bounds of discovery” and interferes with the lawful duties of federal immigration enforcement officials.
The dispute stems from a case involving the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Midway Blitz, a joint federal and local operation conducted in Chicago.
The court action followed allegations that Border Patrol and other federal agents used tear gas and crowd control measures against protesters, journalists, and clergy in violation of a temporary restraining order issued by Judge Ellis earlier this year.
"I don't know where this judge thinks she gets off essentially becoming the Chief of ICE Operations."
Even CNN's legal analyst Elie Honig is slamming rogue Obama-appointed judge Sara Ellis. pic.twitter.com/xReBXgkZMw
— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) October 17, 2025
During a hearing on Tuesday, Ellis expressed frustration with what she described as repeated violations of her order and directed Commander Bovino to appear before her in person each weekday to “go over the events of the day” until a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for November 5.
Attorneys for the Department of Justice immediately sought emergency relief, calling the requirement “extraordinary” and asserting that it interfered with Bovino’s ability to perform his duties.
n filings to the Seventh Circuit, government lawyers wrote that the order “significantly interferes with Commander Bovino’s function, which is ensuring the Nation’s immigration laws are properly enforced.”
The Justice Department also argued that Ellis’s directive was “untethered to the plaintiffs’ underlying claims” and “goes beyond reasonable necessity to ensure compliance” with existing court orders.
The appeal requested an immediate stay while the department prepares a broader challenge to the ruling.
The Seventh Circuit granted the DOJ’s request, pausing enforcement of Ellis’s order until further review.