U .S. Customs and Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino was set to face tough questions in court Thursday, in part of an ongoing fight over how federal agents are handling immigration enforcement in Chicago.

It’s easy for a judge to write words on a piece of paper, but let her see how it works in real time in the real world.

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis took the rare step Tuesday of ordering Greg Bovino, who is leading Border Patrol efforts in Chicago, to brief her every evening.