El Paso BORTAC agents identified in Midwest enforcement operations.
Two El Paso-based Border Patrol agents were identified as having used chemical munitions and tear gas on crowds in Chicago and Minneapolis, including at the scene where an ICE agent fatally shot Renée Good.
Jan 7, 2026Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN
An investigation identified Border Patrol agents Michael Sveum (EZ-2) and Edgar Vazquez (EZ-17) from an El Paso BORTAC unit as key participants in violent federal enforcement operations across the Midwest. The agents were documented using chemical munitions, pepper spray, and tear gas against crowds in Chicago and Minneapolis, including at the scene where ICE agent Jonathan Ross killed Renée Good on January 7, 2026. The investigation analyzed body camera footage, CBP reports, and incident videos to identify the agents and their role in multiple violent escalations.
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Sources
- Identified: the El Paso BORTAC crew rampaging through the Midwest
- 9.2 BORTAC | The Thermal Fogger
- El Paso Times
- The Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC): An Operational and Strategic Assessment
Ronin's Grips·Oct 28, 2025·archived copy
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