The Mayor of Chicago has voiced his opposition to what he deems the “uncontrolled” plan of President Trump to increase the presence of federal officers in the city, a move that could be enacted within days.
Under an executive order issued by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Police Department is prohibited from assisting federal authorities with the enforcement of civil immigration laws or related traffic stops and checkpoints during this period of increased federal involvement.
The mayor has directed all city departments to safeguard the constitutional rights of Chicago residents in light of the potential imminent deployment of military or National Guard forces by the federal government to combat immigration.
When asked during a press conference about federal agents who are purportedly “taking orders,” Johnson stated: “Yes, and I do not take orders from the federal government.”
Furthermore, Johnson also barred Chicago police from wearing facial coverings to conceal their identities, a practice that many federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have adopted since the Trump administration took office this year.
According to U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet made public, the federal increase in Chicago could commence as early as September 5 and last for about 30 days.
The officials described the immigration crackdown as part of a broader effort to enhance the presence of federal law enforcement in major cities governed by Democrats, similar to what occurred this summer in Los Angeles.
On Saturday, President Trump commented on crime in Chicago, addressing Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on his platform “Truth Social”: “Six people were killed and 24 were shot in Chicago last weekend. J.B. Pritzker, the weak and pathetic governor of Illinois, just said he doesn’t need help preventing crime. He’s crazy!!! He better fix this quickly, or we are coming!”