In a controversial operation, hundreds of federal agents descended upon the South Shore Apartments in Chicago, employing tactics typically reserved for combat zones. ### BORTAC's Role in Domestic Operations On September 30th, federal agents executed a raid on the South Shore Apartments in Chicago. Agents in body armor rappelled from helicopters while others breached doors, rounding up residents at gunpoint. Among them were members of the **Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC)**, including **Padraic Daniel Berlin** and his Belgian Malinois, **Yoda**.  Traditionally, **BORTAC** and its sister unit, **Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR)**, were deployed for desert rescues, high-risk warrants, and conflicts with armed drug cartels. However, under the **Trump** administration, these units were deployed in major US cities, marking a shift towards militarizing domestic law enforcement operations. ### Escalated Force and Questionable Intelligence The operation was based on intelligence claiming the building was controlled by **Tren de Aragua**, a Venezuelan street gang. However, this intelligence was never substantiated, leading to investigations into whether baseless claims were used to justify the raid. During the operation, **Berlin** allegedly released **Yoda** on **Tolulope Akinsulie**, an undocumented immigrant, causing significant injuries. **Akinsulie** was not a target of the raid and had no known criminal history. ### Patterns of Violence A **WIRED** review of incident reports from 'Operation Midway Blitz' indicated that **BORTAC** and **BORSTAR** agents were involved in a disproportionate number of violent incidents. Out of 234 federal law enforcement personnel identified, **BORTAC** and **BORSTAR** agents accounted for almost a quarter of those involved in documented confrontations with civilians. **Hennepin County** attorney **Mary Moriarty** is actively investigating 17 separate incidents involving federal agents for potential criminal conduct. Some of these incidents involve **BORTAC** personnel. ### Lack of Transparency The **DHS** has been criticized for its lack of transparency regarding these deployments, disclosing records only in response to litigation. The use of masked agents with obscured identities further complicates accountability.