The Chicago Police Department has instructed its officers not to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in matters especially involving immigration, an internal memo obtained by Fox News reveals.
The memo "effective immediately" directs officers specifically not to assist in immigration arrests and detentions.
Fox News reports,
Instead of assisting DHS upon request, officers are instructed to wait for their supervisor to arrive, the memo said. Once the supervisor arrives, “if the request is to assist with an immigration arrest or detention, CPD personnel will leave the scene as directed by the CPD supervisor,” according to the memo.
CPD confirmed the memo came from an internal superior but would not say if the directive came from the mayor. The mayor’s office has not responded to requests for comment from Fox News.
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For years, Chicago has been a sanctuary city under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and current Mayor Lori Lightfoot. But this new directive goes a step further by instructing, in writing, that the city’s police force no longer immediately assist DHS.
The new directive places Chicago police and federal agents in danger.
Chicago Police told Fox News that officers can still assist federal agents in danger, “but if they are asked to assist with an actual arrest, they will ‘advise and leave the scene.’”
When DHS makes a request for backup, Chicago police officers need to call their supervisor.
For more, watch the Fox News report below.