Chicago homeowner Leo Feler alleges masked CBP agents entered his three-unit property without a warrant during DHS’s Operation Midway Blitz, detaining a worker in the private garage and causing property damage. Video released by the Institute for Justice shows agents scaling a nearly six-foot fence and pursuing workers who were eating lunch outside. The IJ lawsuit contends there was no warrant or reasonable suspicion and alleges racial targeting; the government has conceded at least one warrantless arrest. The case seeks accountability for alleged Fourth Amendment violations.
Chicago Homeowner Sues CBP After Masked Agents Allegedly Raid Property Without Warrant
Photo: Institute of Justice. Illustration: Fatima Ruiz
Chicago homeowner Leo Feler says he was shaken to learn via his Ring doorbell that masked, heavily armed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents had entered, searched, and damaged his three-unit property without a warrant during the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Midway Blitz.
What Happened
According to a federal complaint filed by the Institute for Justice (IJ), Feler had hired a reputable contractor to replace windows and siding on his north-side residence; four subcontracted construction workers were on site. On the morning of October 24, 2025, video released by IJ shows two unmarked vehicles pulling up and masked agents leaping out as the workers were eating lunch. The workers scattered and one alerted Feler through his doorbell camera.
“You are not allowed on the property,” Feler said he told the agents over his home security system as he watched the live feed. “Get off my property.”
Alleged Intrusion and Damage
Video and the complaint describe agents scaling a nearly six-foot fence, entering the enclosed backyard and private garage (areas generally considered part of a home's curtilage), and attempting to detain a worker on a private balcony. The agents detained one worker inside the garage; court filings indicate that arrest was made without a warrant. After the incident Feler found broken fence sections and a damaged front gate lock, a ruined air-conditioning unit, trampled construction materials, and traces of blood inside the house from a worker’s injury.
Legal Claims
The IJ lawsuit asserts that CBP officers had no arrest or search warrant, no reasonable suspicion of criminal activity on the property, and no lawful basis to enter Feler’s private space. The complaint alleges the agents targeted the workers based on race and their appearance as construction workers. The government reportedly conceded that the worker detained in the garage was arrested without a warrant.
Broader Context
The case is framed against recent legal controversy over DHS authority and the Supreme Court’s endorsement of the agency’s use of race as a factor in investigatory stops. In a concurrence, Justice Brett Kavanaugh emphasized that the Fourth Amendment forbids excessive force and other abuses and that remedies should be available in federal court. Whether Feler’s suit will proceed and lead to accountability remains uncertain.
Feler’s Motivation
Feler says his lawsuit is about defending constitutional protections, not immigration policy. He told IJ, “I’m bringing this lawsuit not because of immigration, but because of the Constitution that prevents federal agents from jumping over a fence onto private property without warrant and without cause.”
Status: The lawsuit seeks damages and a ruling that the officers’ entry and actions violated Feler’s Fourth Amendment rights. The case is pending in federal court.
Help us improve.
