Chicago Man Allegedly Ordered Hit on Top Borderโฃ Patrol Chief, Federal Prosecutors โSay
CHICAGO – A Chicago-area man has been chargedโข with attempting to arrange the murder of aโข high-ranking U.S.โ Border Patrol official, according โคtoโ federal prosecutors. The alleged plot, revealed in court documents unsealed Wednesday, underscoresโข escalating tensions surroundingโ immigration enforcement and security.
The case centers around Espinoza Martinez, whose alleged actions stem from a broader wave ofโ protests and legal challenges โฃto Homeland Security operations in the Northern District of illinois, particularly surroundingโฃ a U.S.Customs and Immigrationโ Enforcement processing center in Broadview, illinois. The facility has become a focal point for Chicago-area demonstrations against immigration enforcement.
Prosecutors allege โEspinozaโข Martinezโ solicited โan individual to carry โขout โthe hit on the Borderโข Patrol chief.โ Detailsโ surrounding the โคalleged โคsolicitation โขand the identity โฃof the targeted official have not been โpublicly released,โค citing ongoing investigation concerns.
The unfolding situation arrives amid a seriesโข ofโ legalโ setbacks for the Biden administration’s immigrationโฃ enforcement efforts in the region. Lateโค on the eveningโค of Oct. 14, Homeland Security was forced to remove a fence erectedโค around the Broadview facility following an order from U.S. District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt. Theโข judge ruled โขthe reinforced gate hindered โฃthe Village of broadview’s ability to respondโค to emergencies.
An immigration agency spokesperson responded to theโ judge’s order by calling her an “activist judge” and asserting that removing the barrier “skyrockets” the risk of chaos โคand injury.
Federal prosecutors have also faced challenges inโ pursuing cases against protesters. Attorney General โPam Bondi previously labeled demonstrators as “violent โขagitators” and vowed “the strongest federal โฃcharges possible.” However,the U.S. Attorney’s Office โin Chicago announced arrests in connection with the protests, with four of five cases subsequently dismissed.โข A felony โcharge against โ70-year-old Vietnam-era veteran dana Briggs was downgraded to a misdemeanor.