Salem police say officers were in the area less than 10 minutes after receiving a call about a disturbance involving federal immigration agents and a crowd on Oct. 10, but entered the crowd and began actively addressing the situation about 15 minutes after the call. The clarification came as community members returned to protest in Salem and advocates called for accountability over reported use of tear gas. Police said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement called at about 9:30 a.m., reporting that roughly 30 people were surrounding agents’ vehicles near 1970 Lancaster Drive NE. The department said it coordinated with fire personnel and assessed conditions before officers entered, citing responder and public safety considerations. Salem police spokesperson Senior Officer Mark Jantz said federal agents had been at the scene for some time before local officers were notified. That distinction, he said, may explain why people who witnessed events from the beginning experienced the response timeline differently. During the response, police said, 911 callers reported tear gas and people having trouble breathing or experiencing eye irritation. Videos of the confrontation show munitions being fired and gas in the air; footage also appears to show federal agents ramming vehicles. A couple at the scene said they used milk to help a woman exposed to tear gas before medics arrived. The incident remains under investigation. Police said they cannot release case details while it is active and plan to forward their findings to the Oregon Department of Justice, which would handle any records release. Police also said a report would be sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for independent review. Protester Sky Hernandez, who returned to Lancaster Drive on Monday, said families’ presence made the confrontation frightening. Another protester, Emmalie Morgan, said she was there in solidarity with people she believes are being harassed or detained by ICE. Sandra Hernandez, director of Latinos Unidos Siempre, called for accountability and said civilians should not have to face chemical agents from their government. She urged community members to stay connected with local organizations for support and information. Gov. Tina Kotek also called for stronger coordination to ensure state and local agencies comply with Oregon’s sanctuary law, which bars state and local resources from assisting federal immigration enforcement. Her office cited the Salem incident and what it described as an increase in ICE detentions in Oregon, including at least 45 since Oct. 6. Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan said public safety should be the priority, while people who have not committed crimes should not have to live in fear. The debate unfolds as the federal government has confirmed a nationwide ICE enforcement surge in sanctuary cities.