Prosecutors have fled the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago, angry about the cases they’ve been told to bring against protesters and immigrants. The departures reflect growing dissent within the federal prosecutorial ranks over directives they view as politically motivated and legally questionable.

Sources familiar with the matter say the attorneys cited moral objections to pursuing charges that they believe target peaceful demonstrators and vulnerable immigrant communities. Their exits have left the office scrambling to manage ongoing investigations and court proceedings with reduced staff.

The situation underscores broader tensions between career prosecutors and political leadership regarding immigration enforcement and protest policing. Observers warn that the attrition could affect the office’s ability to handle its caseload and may prompt further reviews of case selection policies.