Chicago police set directives for collecting evidence on ICE agents suspected of breaking the law
<p>Chicago police have finally issued guidelines on how to collect and retain evidence against federal immigration agents suspected of violating state law, six months after a mayoral executive order directing them to do so.</p><p>Much of the new guidance refers to existing department policies, and clarifies that regular police work, such as rendering medical aid and using body cameras, shouldn’t stop — even if federal agents are considered crime suspects.</p><p>Cops are directed to record incidents involving immigration officers using their body-worn cameras, and to identify the names of top federal agents present on a scene. The guidance also specifies what formal channels officers should use to receive, document and potentially investigate complaints made against the feds.</p><p>Spelling out that responsibility for cops, even if it was already baked into existing protocol, was a key goal of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/01/31/brandon-johnson-investigate-ice-prosecution-executive-order-chicago" >Mayor Brandon Johnson’s executive order.</a></p><p>The police department didn’t immediately respond to what training officers have received or will receive on the new guidance.</p><p>It follows WBEZ reporting that showed the executive order hadn’t been formally implemented despite a February deadline.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>Chicago police have finally issued guidelines on how to collect and retain evidence against federal immigration agents suspected of violating state law, six months after a mayoral executive order directing them to do so.</p><p>Much of the new guidance refers to existing department policies, and clarifies that regular police work, such as rendering medical aid and using body cameras, shouldn’t stop — even if federal agents are considered crime suspects.</p><p>Cops are directed to record incidents involving immigration officers using their body-worn cameras, and to identify the names of top federal agents present on a scene. The guidance also specifies what formal channels officers should use to receive, document and potentially investigate complaints made against the feds.</p><p>Spelling out that responsibility for cops, even if it was already baked into existing protocol, was a key goal of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/01/31/brandon-johnson-investigate-ice-prosecution-executive-order-chicago" >Mayor Brandon Johnson’s executive order.</a></p><p>The police department didn’t immediately respond to what training officers have received or will receive on the new guidance.</p><p>It follows WBEZ reporting that showed the executive order hadn’t been formally implemented despite a February deadline. <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/07/17/ice-midway-blitz-chicago-police-brandon-johnson" >At a City Council hearing Friday, </a>aldermen grilled police officials about the delays.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/07/15/brandon-johnson-city-council-ice-immigration-midway-blitz" >Mayor Johnson’s plan to crack down on ICE agents under City Council scrutiny</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>In March, Johnson told reporters that a new policy wasn’t needed to implement the executive order. But last week, a spokesperson told WBEZ that guidance was still under development.</p><p>Johnson’s executive order has stirred confusion since its inception, namely because of a clause that required officers to refer felony matters to Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke “at the direction of the Mayor’s Office.” O’Neill Burke slammed that requirement as “wholly inappropriate.”</p><p>The new guidance doesn’t name the mayor’s office and instead clarifies that incidents “will continue to be investigated and referred to the Cook County States Attorney consistent with the existing Department directives.”</p><p>Last week, the mayor’s office walked back that language in a statement, saying it hasn’t reviewed or consulted on any potential referrals for criminal charges to the state’s attorney since the order was signed.</p><p>“The Mayor’s Office’s role is to establish that policy direction, not to review, oversee, or participate in individual investigations or referral decisions,” a spokesperson said.</p><p>Immigrant advocates who want to see the executive order enforced point to a recent, high-profile<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/06/02/federal-agents-crash-into-car-while-detaining-man-in-albany-park" > incident in Albany Park,</a> where an ICE agent crashed an SUV into a woman’s car and fled before police arrived.</p><p>Pooja Ravindran, the chief of staff for the council’s Committee on Immigration and Refugee Rights said this is the type of case that could be investigated and potentially referred for criminal prosecution.
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- <p>Chicago police have finally issued guidelines on how to collect and retain evidence against federal immigration agents suspected of violating state law, six months after a mayoral executive order directing them to do so.</p><p>Much of the new guidance refers to existing department policies, and clarifies that regular police work, such as rendering medical aid and using body cameras, shouldn’t stop — even if federal agents are considered crime suspects.</p><p>Cops are directed to record incidents involving immigration officers using their body-worn cameras, and to identify the names of top federal agents present on a scene. The guidance also specifies what formal channels officers should use to receive, document and potentially investigate complaints made against the feds.</p><p>Spelling out that responsibility for cops, even if it was already baked into existing protocol, was a key goal of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/01/31/brandon-johnson-investigate-ice-prosecution-executive-order-chicago" >Mayor Brandon Johnson’s executive order.</a></p><p>The police department didn’t immediately respond to what training officers have received or will receive on the new guidance.</p><p>It follows WBEZ reporting that showed the executive order hadn’t been formally implemented despite a February deadline.
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Chicago police set directives for collecting evidence on ICE agents suspected of breaking the law
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