Internal Email Shows Clash Over Chicago Immigration Sweeps That Led To 1,600 Arrests

WASHINGTON — Months before two fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving Border Patrol agents, an internal email obtained by NBC News shows Gregory Bovino, who until recently oversaw immigration enforcement operations, pushed back against directions to limit enforcement in Chicago to narrowly defined "targeted operations."

Background. Bovino sought authorization to conduct broad immigration sweeps during a September operation in Chicago. According to the email, Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, advised that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) should run "targeted operations," arresting only individuals already identified by federal agents for immigration or other law violations.

In his message to Department of Homeland Security leaders in Washington, Bovino wrote that "Mr. Lyons seemed intent that CBP conduct targeted operations for at least two weeks before transitioning to full scale immigration enforcement. I declined his suggestion. We ended the conversation shortly thereafter."

Police take two people into custody as tear gas fills the air after it was used by federal law enforcement agents in Broadview, Ill., on Oct. 4. (Scott Olson / Getty Images)(Scott Olson)

Operation Midway Blitz

After roughly 10 days of narrower enforcement in Chicago, DHS leadership cleared a broader approach. Border Patrol agents under Bovino's supervision began stopping people they suspected were in the country illegally, according to a person familiar with the exchange. The enforcement push, labeled "Operation Midway Blitz," ultimately led to about 1,600 arrests, prompted protests and clashes with demonstrators across the Chicago area, and included incidents in which immigration officers shot two people.

Internal Friction And Political Alignments

The disclosed email highlights tensions within the homeland security apparatus as aides sought to implement the administration's expansive deportation agenda. Bovino’s tactics drew sharp criticism, sparked a lawsuit challenging arrests in Chicago, and preceded his removal from his Minneapolis post following the fatal shooting of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, 37, by two Border Patrol agents under his command.

In the email, Bovino wrote: "Mr. Lyons said he was in charge, and I corrected him saying I report to Corey Lewandowski." The correspondence links Bovino to Corey Lewandowski, a top aide to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The record notes Lewandowski has served as an unpaid special government employee since last February.

The email also appears to contradict public statements from Secretary Noem, who said enforcement operations are "targeted" and aimed at specific individuals. In remarks at the White House on Jan. 15, Noem said, "In every situation, we’re doing targeted enforcement," and described questioning by agents of people around a target to verify identities.

Local and state law enforcement stand guard as hundreds of protesters gather near an ICE facility in Broadview on Oct. 3. (Octavio Jones / AFP - Getty Images)(Octavio Jones)

Under Bovino, however, some enforcement actions in Chicago included large sweeps of people based on location — for example, day laborers gathered in a Home Depot parking lot — and stops of people suspected of being in the U.S. illegally even when their identities were not known to law enforcement.

Aftermath

Spokespeople for ICE, DHS and CBP did not respond to requests for comment. President Trump removed Bovino from his Minneapolis assignment and stripped him of the title of Border Patrol commander; he was reassigned to his prior role as Border Patrol sector chief in El Centro, California. Tom Homan was dispatched to Minneapolis to replace him.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.