Chicago Tribune Opinion Friday, December 19, 2025 | | |
| | | | | Happy Friday, Chicago. Today, the editorial board laments the return of Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino, whose ranks have staked out Home Depot and snatched at least one tamale vendor off the streets. The board also weighs in on the Bears’ surprising announcement that they’ve expanded their stadium horizons not just to the Chicago suburbs but also to northwest Indiana. The news comes ahead of one of the most anticipated Bears-Packers matchups in a decade — and a loss would only amplify fan frustration with Kevin Warren’s buzzkill message. On the opinion page, Pastor Paco Amador and Daniel Yang, recalling a firsthand encounter with Bovino during an arrest in Little Village, articulate an evangelical Christian perspective on the president’s approach to immigration reform and underscore the importance of offering biblical hospitality for immigrant families. Columnist David Greising returns to the Chicago budget battle, writing that while the City Council and City Hall debate various revenue ideas, we can’t lose sight of the serious debt risks that could push the city toward a credit downgrade and long-term fiscal harm. Don’t forget to check out our reader letters. — Hilary Gowins, editorial board member Submit an op-ed | Submit a letter to the editor | Meet the Tribune Editorial Board | Subscribe to this newsletter | | | | Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino is making a performative nuisance of himself in the run-up to Chicago’s holidays. The act is wearing thin. | | | | | Take a break with all that stadium stuff, Kevin Warren. Come back after the Bears win the Super Bowl. | | | | | Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino’s self-proclaimed mission in Chicago appeared devoid of the mercy and love central to the Gospel. | | | | | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s borrowing plans, which will have both immediate and yearslong ramifications, have not gotten enough focus. | | | | | I’d been making plans since I first heard the snowy owls landed on Lake Michigan’s shore, but many things postponed our search. | | | | | State and local leadership must collaborate and support a network of health care that includes mental health services. | | | |