Chicago’s elected leader, Mayor Brandon Johnson, has taken a firm stand against the Trump administration’s proposed plan to increase federal officers in the nation’s third-largest city. The initiative, which could commence within days, has been met with staunch resistance from city hall.
An executive order has been signed by the mayor, effectively prohibiting the Chicago Police Department from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement, patrols, traffic stops, and checkpoints during this proposed surge. Mayor Johnson, emphasizing the importance of upholding the constitutional rights of Chicago residents, has directed all city departments to be vigilant against any potential militarized immigration or National Guard deployment by the federal government.
In a recent news conference, Mayor Johnson asserted his independence from federal government orders, also issuing a directive prohibiting Chicago police from wearing face coverings to hide their identities, a practice adopted by many federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers since the Trump administration took office. These actions, according to the mayor, are efforts to maintain transparency and accountability.
This federal surge into Chicago could commence as early as September 5 and last around 30 days, as per two U.S. officials, who spoke anonymously while discussing plans not yet made public. The officials described this initiative as part of a larger effort to increase the federal law enforcement presence in Democratic-run cities, similar to measures taken this summer in Los Angeles.
This development follows earlier reports of President Donald Trump’s comments about crime in Chicago and his criticisms of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Contrary to the recent federal takeover of policing in Washington, D.C., the focus of the Chicago operation is reportedly exclusively on immigration and not part of a wider campaign against crime.
Chicago, home to a large immigrant population, and the state of Illinois, have some of the country’s strongest rules against cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Mayor Johnson’s executive order amplifies this stance, asserting that neither city nor state officials have sought, or been consulted on, the proposed federal surge.
Related: Trump Issues Ultimatum to Pritzker: Clean Up Chicago or Face Action
The mayor has publicly accused Trump of “behaving outside the bounds of the Constitution” and using federal presence in Democratic cities as political retribution. The White House has countered, insisting that the potential surge of federal agents is aimed at “cracking down on crime”.
In summary, as the Trump administration plans to expand its federal law enforcement presence in major cities, Chicago’s Mayor Johnson is resisting these efforts, raising important questions about local government autonomy, constitutional rights, and the handling of immigration enforcement.