ICE detains man after traffic crash as CPD priortizes keeping its cops far, far away – CWB Chicago

A recent traffic incident on Chicago’s West Side underscores ongoing tensions between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. This situation raises questions about the jurisdictional divide and the impacts on community policing.

On October 2, at approximately 2 PM, a collision occurred at the intersection of Congress Parkway and California Avenue. According to a report from the Chicago Police Department (CPD), a 49-year-old woman was injured and required medical attention at Mt. Sinai Hospital following a crash when another driver collided with her Infiniti G37.

The driver of the other vehicle—a 2025 Chevy Malibu displaying “in transit” plates—fled the scene immediately after the accident.

Eyewitness accounts suggested that Border Patrol agents, observed in multiple unmarked vehicles, had initiated a pursuit of the vehicle prior to the collision. Video footage circulating online showed an agent detaining a suspect at the crash site, highlighting the significant federal involvement in what began as a traffic incident.

Notably, the presence of federal agents in this context raises concerns about the role of local police. Within moments of the crash, a CPD officer monitoring surveillance footage confirmed the collision and the involvement of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

However, the local CPD district found itself unable to dispatch officers immediately due to a backlog of service calls. This resulted in a significant delay in police response, with the first official to arrive being the district commander rather than regular patrol officers, an unusual occurrence for such incidents.

Upon arrival, the police commander assessed the situation and prioritized ensuring clear communication about the CPD’s non-involvement in federal actions. “The car can remain in the street,” a police supervisor stated, emphasizing the operational directive to maintain distance from ICE activities on the scene.

For a community already grappling with the complexities of immigration and law enforcement, such interactions only serve to heighten anxieties around local policing and federal oversight. The increasing visibility of ICE in everyday incidents poses critical questions about community safety and trust.

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CWBChicago was founded in 2013 by residents who were tired of the misleading information shared in local Community Policing meetings. Our focus has since broadened to include key neighborhoods across the city, but our mission remains: to deliver detailed public safety reporting that provides greater context than mainstream media.