An internal Chicago Police Department memo confirmed that officers were instructed not to intervene, appearing to verify the stand-down order captured in dispatch recordings. According to the memo, ICE agents, numbering roughly 30 and armed, were surrounded by a crowd requesting police assistance, yet officers were directed not to respond.
The CPD disputed claims of a total stand-down, stating that officers were present and provided assistance at the scene. In a statement, the department emphasized that supervisors determine the appropriate course of action during federal immigration enforcement operations in accordance with city law, and that CPD officers always respond to threats of physical harm.
Federal officials described the attack as aggressive and dangerous. Reports indicated that ten vehicles surrounded the ICE agents, with video showing at least one vehicle ramming an ICE truck. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the event “an attack on brave law enforcement” and pledged additional resources to support agents in Chicago.
The episode has ignited debate over police coordination, crowd control, and the handling of protests near federal operations. Investigations are ongoing, with city and federal authorities assessing the response and reviewing protocols to ensure the safety of officers and the public during volatile incidents.
The incident underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in balancing public safety, protester activity, and the protection of federal personnel in densely populated urban areas.
