The Militarization of Domestic Immigration Enforcement and the Rise of Paramilitary Operations in American Cities

In the early morning hours of September 30, 2025, the quiet of Chicago’s South Side was shattered by a massive federal deployment. Hundreds of agents converged on the South Shore Apartments, a beige brick residential complex, in a display of force typically reserved for active war zones. As federal personnel in heavy body armor rappelled from a Black Hawk helicopter, others breached the building’s entrances with battering rams. This operation marked a significant escalation in the use of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) and its sister unit, Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR), within the interior of the United States.

The deployment, part of a broader initiative known as Operation Midway Blitz, represents the largest known domestic activation of Border Patrol’s elite paramilitary wings. Historically, these units were specialized for high-risk desert rescues, interdicting armed drug cartels, and executing warrants in remote border regions. However, under the current administration, these units have been repurposed as a spearhead for immigration enforcement in major metropolitan areas, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, and Minneapolis. This shift has raised profound questions regarding the militarization of domestic law enforcement and the legal standards governing the use of force against civilians.

The Evolution of Border Patrol Special Operations

Founded in 1984, BORTAC was initially created to respond to riots at immigration detention facilities. Over the decades, its remit expanded to include international missions alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in South America, as well as tactical support in Iraq and Afghanistan. BORSTAR, established in 1998, focused on the search and rescue of migrants in distress. Both units are composed of agents who often come from specialized military backgrounds, such as the Army Rangers or Special Forces, and undergo rigorous training in Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) tactics.

The transition from border security to urban immigration enforcement began to accelerate in early 2020 when BORTAC agents were deployed to "sanctuary cities" to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). That same year, the unit drew national scrutiny for its role in detaining protesters in Portland, Oregon. By 2025, these deployments evolved into Operation Midway Blitz, a coordinated surge that bypassed traditional local law enforcement protocols in favor of "hostage rescue" style tactics applied to civil immigration violations.

Chronology of Operation Midway Blitz

The tactical philosophy of BORTAC was on full display during the September 30 raid in Chicago. Led by team leader Corey Myers, a Marine veteran, the entry team included Padraic Daniel Berlin, David Dubar Jr., and Paul Delgado Jr. The agents moved in a "stack" formation, armed with suppressor-equipped M4 rifles and accompanied by Yoda, a Belgian Malinois. The raid was predicated on intelligence claiming the building was a stronghold for Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. While the administration categorized the group as a foreign terrorist organization, internal intelligence reports later suggested the threat may have been overstated or unsubstantiated.

During the sweep, Berlin encountered Tolulope Akinsulie, an undocumented immigrant from Nigeria, in a second-floor unit. Records indicate that without issuing a verbal command, Berlin released the canine. The dog repeatedly bit Akinsulie on the leg, hip, and hands. Akinsulie, who had no history of violent crime or gang affiliation, was not the primary target of the warrant. This incident was one of at least five documented uses of force involving Berlin during the eight-week operation.

On October 14, tensions escalated further during a high-speed car chase on Chicago’s South Side involving agent Carlos Chavira Jr. When a crowd gathered to protest the subsequent collision, BORTAC units, including John Bockstanz and supervisory agent Warren Becker, arrived on the scene. Despite objections from Chicago Police Department (CPD) commanders who requested time to de-escalate the situation, Bockstanz deployed tear gas into the crowd. The gas affected not only demonstrators but also more than a dozen unmasked Chicago police officers.

The operation reached a flashpoint on October 25 in the Irving Park neighborhood. As residents gathered for a neighborhood Halloween parade, a BORTAC convoy tackled a Latino man on a private lawn. When neighbors, including 68-year-old Michael Brosilow and 25-year-old Maria Bryan, protested the agents’ presence, the situation turned violent. Rico and Chavez tackled Brosilow, resulting in six broken ribs and internal bleeding. Bryan suffered seven fractured ribs after being slammed to the ground. In both cases, the agents utilized "less-lethal" munitions and tear gas in a densely populated residential area.

Data Analysis of Use-of-Force Incidents

A comprehensive review of over 78 incident reports from Operation Midway Blitz reveals a pattern of heightened aggression. Between September and November 2025, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel recorded 144 discrete uses of force. While BORTAC and BORSTAR agents comprised only about a quarter of the federal personnel identified in these reports, they were responsible for a disproportionate number of violent confrontations.

Key findings from the data include:

• Personnel Involvement: 62 BORTAC and BORSTAR agents were involved in force incidents over an eight-week period.
• Recidivism of Force: 25 agents were involved in two or more incidents, while 16 others used force at least once.
• Types of Force: Tactics included the use of K-9 units, tasers, pepperballs, 40-mm foam rounds, and physical strikes (punching and kicking).
• Fatalities: At least one unarmed civilian, Silverio Villegas González, was killed during an enforcement action involving federal agents.

The data suggests that the rules of engagement utilized by these units are fundamentally different from those of municipal police departments. While local police are generally trained in community-oriented policing and de-escalation, BORTAC operates under a "war-fighting" paradigm where the primary objective is the total control of a tactical environment.

Official Responses and Legal Scrutiny

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP have maintained a policy of strict secrecy regarding these operations. In response to inquiries, CBP spokespersons cited the risk of "doxing" as a reason for refusing to confirm the identities of agents involved, even those named in public court records. The agency maintains that all personnel are "trained to use the minimum amount of force necessary," and that internal probes are handled by the Office of Professional Responsibility.

However, the rhetoric from leadership suggests a more aggressive stance. Gregory Bovino, a longtime BORTAC member and a central figure in the 2025 surges, was captured on body camera footage stating, "I think if we push this whole fucking block back, that ought to teach ’em a lesson." Such statements have fueled allegations that the operations are designed as much for political optics as for law enforcement.

Legal challenges are currently mounting. In Minnesota, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty is investigating 17 separate incidents for potential criminal conduct by federal agents. In Illinois, civil rights attorneys are petitioning for a special prosecutor to investigate ICE and CBP conduct. US Senator Thom Tillis has also challenged DHS for failing to provide data on stops, searches, and property damage occurring during Operation Charlotte’s Web in North Carolina.

Broader Implications for Domestic Policy

The deployment of paramilitary units into American cities marks a bellwether for the militarization of domestic governance. Critics argue that using "SEAL-style" tactics for civil immigration violations is an overreach that undermines the Fourth Amendment and erodes public trust. John Sandweg, former acting director of ICE, characterized the use of BORTAC in urban settings as "malpractice," noting that the units lack the training necessary for policing densely packed civilian environments.

The long-term impact on the communities targeted by Operation Midway Blitz remains to be seen. For residents like Brian Kolp, an attorney whose neighborhood was subjected to the October 25 raid, the experience has been "radicalizing." The presence of masked, heavily armed agents on residential streets has created a climate of fear that extends beyond the undocumented population to American citizens and local officials.

As of late 2025, approximately 3,800 people have been arrested under the auspices of Operation Midway Blitz, with 2,500 deported. Despite dozens of arrests for "assaulting federal officers" or "impeding" operations, almost none have resulted in criminal convictions, suggesting that these charges may be used primarily to justify the initial use of force. The ongoing litigation and investigations will likely determine whether these paramilitary surges become a permanent fixture of American law enforcement or are relegated to a controversial chapter of the current administration’s history.