Chicago police officers were reportedly instructed to stand down during a violent incident in which federal agents were attacked near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, according to dispatch recordings and internal communications reviewed by reporters. The confrontation occurred Saturday on the city’s South Side, where agents from the Department of Homeland Security were conducting a routine patrol unrelated to nearby anti-ICE demonstrations.

Federal officials stated that the agents were rammed by vehicles and boxed in by a coordinated group of 10 cars, roughly 15 miles from a protest outside an ICE processing center in Broadview. As agents exited their vehicle, a woman armed with a semi-automatic weapon allegedly attempted to run them over. She was shot by officers and later taken into custody.

Audio from police dispatch reveals that responding Chicago officers were told to hold back. “Per the chief of patrol: Clear everybody out, we’re not responding over there,” a male voice said, which was then relayed by a female dispatcher. One officer already in the area responded over the radio, saying they were blocked in and would try to leave as soon as possible.

An internal CPD memo confirmed that officers were ordered not to intervene, even as federal agents requested assistance. However, the Chicago Police Department later disputed this version of events, stating that officers were indeed on scene and helped maintain public safety and traffic control during the incident.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem condemned the attack and announced that more federal resources would be sent to Chicago to ensure the safety of law enforcement officials operating in the area.

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