Last week, ICE agents came under direct attack from protesters while running operations in Illinois.
As agents were boxed in by protesters, calls reportedly went out to local police departments for assistance.
After reports surfaced that local officers were told to by higher command to stand down, the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) went ballistic on the city’s police department.
A report broke early Saturday afternoon that agents had been swarmed by protesters near Chicago.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that the agents were unable to move and that they "were forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed U.S. citizen."
One of the women arrested for the assault was identified as Marimar Martinez, who had already doxed several agents online and had written, "Hey to all my gang let’s f--- those motherf------ up, don’t let them take anyone."
No agents were injured in the incident, but then disturbing reports surfaced that the agents had called for local assistance, and it was delayed, if not outright denied.
There were signs that there would be problems between ICE and local law enforcement earlier in the week when DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and her staffers were denied access to restrooms at a municipal building.
This time, however, things were much worse, as reports surfaced that the chief of patrol ordered officers to stand down and not answer the distress call from ICE agents who were under attack.
Now, if I am reading this report right, the conscious decision was made to let those ICE agents deal with the escalating danger on their own, literally putting their lives at risk to score political points.
To be clear, local police officers were on the radio, describing the scene, and were ready to help, but they were told by dispatch, “Per the chief of patrol, all units clear out from there, we’re not sending anybody out to that location.” This came after a male voice could be heard on the radio telling officers, “Stay put.”
National FOP President Patrick Yoes was furious when reports surfaced that the order to stand down came from local police leadership. He stated, "Details are still emerging, but it appears that officers from the Chicago Police Department were ordered not to assist a group of ICE agents while they were physically threatened by what appeared to be an angry mob.”
He continued, "Let me be clear, both the National FOP and the Illinois FOP believe that when an officer calls for assistance, you answer, no matter what."
Illinois State FOP President Chris Southwood added, "The number one unwritten rule in law enforcement is that we respond to any calls from officers in distress. What would have happened if the local police were facing threats and nearby federal officers were told not to assist? Whether you agree about immigration enforcement or not, when a law enforcement officer is in trouble, nothing should stand in the way of fellow officers rendering assistance."
This, to me, is criminal, and I fully expect the DOJ to launch an investigation into the stand-down order. These agents are doing nothing more than their jobs, enforcing our immigration laws, and Democrats are making them out to be the lawbreakers. We have seen how these attacks progress, and if the local police are not going to help agents in distress, do Democrats not think this will embolden attackers, knowing full well there is no help coming for trapped officers? I hate to say it, but I believe loss of life -- whether of an agent or a protester -- is imminent at this point, and that blood will be on the hands of Democrats and local officials in these blue states.
