Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has issued an executive order outlining measures for city officials to counteract potential immigration enforcement actions by the Trump administration. The directive instructs city agencies and local law enforcement to refuse collaboration with federal agents on joint operations, including civil immigration enforcement. According to POLITICO, the order explicitly states that the Chicago Police Department will only follow orders from the mayor.
Johnson warned of possible militarized immigration efforts, including National Guard deployments and active-duty military presence in the city, during a statement cited by CNN. “This president is not going to come in and deputize our police department,” he emphasized. The move follows a Department of Homeland Security memo proposing the use of Naval Station Great Lakes as a base for immigration operations near Chicago, with nearby suburbs also at risk.
Trump has pledged to deploy National Guard units to Chicago to address crime, mirroring actions taken in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. The White House criticized Johnson and Democratic leaders for what it called “publicity stunts,” while praising Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser for her cooperation with the administration.
Johnson’s order also mandates city departments to pursue legal and legislative measures against federal actions violating Chicagoans’ rights. It demands Trump halt military deployments for immigration enforcement, though its effectiveness remains uncertain. The directive reflects broader resistance from Democratic-led cities amid Trump’s expanded law enforcement strategies in multiple metropolitan areas.