Pittsburgh police chief reviews officers’ lack of ICE assistance in arrest
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers struggled to detain a suspect near a police station, Pittsburgh police officers did not intervene because allegations circulated that the officers were told to stand down.
Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando said he was not aware of any orders directing officers not to take action and had launched an administrative review of the incident.
“To that end, I was made aware of a recent incident that occurred outside the District 3 police station where ICE agents attempted to detain someone,” Lando said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. he said.
KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh reported that the incident unfolded when ICE agents attempted to detain a suspect near the District 3 station when the man began fighting and kicking ICE agents.
DETROIT OFFICERS TO BE TERMINATED FOR ALLEGEDLY CONTACTING IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS DURING TRAFFIC STOPS
Radio host Colin Dunlap said a Pittsburgh police officer told him they were instructed to stand down during the confrontation.
“Pittsburgh Police officers were allegedly ordered by some individuals not to intervene and were forced to stand there and watch,” he continued. “Although our officers did not intervene in this particular situation, I am not aware of any orders being issued prohibiting them from doing so.”
According to Lando, the incident occurred near the District 3 station, where ICE agents stopped a vehicle at a nearby gas station and attempted to detain a suspect.
CHICAGO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ‘GIVEN NOTIFICATION’ WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER DEMANDING THE TRIAL OF THE AGENTS
Badge and gear of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
While the officers did not intervene, Lando emphasized that Pittsburgh police do not enforce federal immigration law and do not interfere with ICE operations.
“It is not our job, and it never has been, to conduct immigration enforcement,” Lando said. “We do not cooperate with ICE. We do not check immigration status on calls for service. We do not participate in ’roundups’.”
He added that officers are still required to respond to emergency calls for assistance, including from other law enforcement, but are instructed to only assist in securing the scene before returning to service.
BOSTON POLICE DETAINED 100% OF ICE DETENTIONS IN 2025 ON THE REASONS OF THE ASylum Act
Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando ordered an investigation after officers failed to intervene when ICE agents struggled with a suspect amid allegations of a stand-down order. (Pittsburgh Police Bureau Facebook)
Lando said he instructed the 3rd District commander to conduct an investigation to determine all the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor said the city will continue its policy of not assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, according to CBS News Pittsburgh.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
O’Connor, a Democrat, made the comments following a deadly ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis in January, calling the incident a “tragedy” and emphasizing that Pittsburgh aims to remain a welcoming city for immigrants.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.
