Unmasking the Paramilitary Agents Behind Trump's Violent Immigration Crackdown
7 hours ago
- #Immigration enforcement violence
- #Trump administration policies
- #Border Patrol militarization
- BORTAC and BORSTAR, paramilitary units of the Border Patrol, were deployed in major U.S. cities like Chicago under the Trump administration for immigration enforcement, marking their largest known domestic deployment.
- During Operation Midway Blitz in 2025, these units engaged in violent tactics including tear gas, dog attacks, and physical assaults, leading to civilian injuries, broken ribs, and at least one death, with many incidents under investigation for potential criminal conduct.
- Agents operated with secrecy, using masks and call signs, and their identities were often hidden from public records; some had backgrounds including domestic violence or military experience, but they lacked urban policing training.
- The deployment faced legal challenges and backlash, with courts criticizing the use of force without clear warnings, but no agents have faced criminal charges, and internal investigations remain undisclosed by DHS and CBP.
- Incidents like the raid on South Shore Apartments and clashes in Irving Park highlighted the units' aggressive, militarized approach, escalating tensions with civilians and local police, and raising concerns about authoritarian overreach in civil immigration enforcement.