CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson is taking new steps to struggle President Donald Trump’s anticipated immigration crackdown and potential Nationwide Guard deployment within the Chicago space.
Johnson signed the “Defending Chicago” govt order on Saturday because the Trump administration prepares to conduct a serious immigration enforcement operation, which may begin subsequent week.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click on right here to observe
Sources say tons of of immigration enforcement brokers might be coming to Chicago. These brokers are anticipated to be stationed at Naval Station Nice Lakes.
Leaders in any respect ranges of presidency have been calling out the plans, together with Gov. JB Pritzker, who says there may be nothing the state of Illinois can legally do to cease any immigration enforcement operations. However that’s not stopping Johnson from taking motion.
Whereas the mayor says he has not obtained particular particulars about what federal regulation enforcement or navy motion may appear to be, he believes the manager order is one solution to defend the rights of Chicagoans.
Chicago mayor indicators govt order in response to potential deployment of Nationwide Guard.
“We don’t need to see tanks in our streets. You do not need to see households ripped aside. You do not need grandmothers thrown into the again of unmarked vans,” Johnson mentioned.
With a stroke of a pen, Johnson signed an govt order establishing the Defending Chicago Initiative. It directs metropolis companies to commonly submit Freedom of Data Act requests concerning actions taken by the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety. And it reaffirms that the Chicago Police Division will stay a regionally managed regulation enforcement company.
“So, that is about making a transparent distinction between what our regulation enforcement engages in versus what federal brokers have interaction in,” Johnson mentioned.
RELATED | CPD prepares for potential arrival of Nationwide Guard troops, immigration enforcement anticipated
The chief order additionally calls on federal regulation enforcement to observe municipal insurance policies, together with these prohibiting officers from carrying masks to hide their identities, requiring physique cameras to be worn and activated whereas interacting with a member of the general public, and mandating that officers show the title of their federal company, their final title, and their badge quantity.
Ald. Ray Lopez, who represents the fifteenth Ward, believes the deployment of Nationwide Guard troops may assist enhance public security and doesn’t consider the mayor’s govt order accomplishes a lot.
“I consider that we already work with the federal authorities on a number of ranges. This could be an enhancement to that, and there are safeguards in place, and there needs to be nothing stopping us from exploring these choices. Look, if he president and mayor really had an actual dialog as a substitute of speaking at one another, possibly we may work a few of this out,” Lopez mentioned.
Ald. Mike Rodriguez, who represents the twenty second Ward, disagrees.
“How would you are feeling in the event you’re in Little Village making an attempt to ship your child to highschool, go to church, open your store with tanks probably working down your streets? That is unacceptable, un-American and counterproductive to the general public security we need to convey to the town,” Rodriguez mentioned.
SEE ALSO | Chicago gun violence survivors communicate out towards President Trump’s Nationwide Guard plans
Below the manager order, the mayor additionally directs the town to pursue all authorized and legislative avenues to cease the potential deployment of Nationwide Guard troops.
Trump posted on Fact Social on Saturday, saying, “Six individuals had been killed, and 24 individuals had been shot, in Chicago final weekend, and JB Pritzker, the weak and pathetic Governor of Illinois, simply mentioned that he does not want assist in stopping CRIME. He’s CRAZY!!! He higher straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming! MAGA. President DJT.”
The Chicago Police Division mentioned three individuals had been fatally shot over the weekend, between 6 p.m. Friday and midnight Monday morning.
Pritzker posted to X in response to Trump’s message, saying, “Why do not you ship everybody proof of life first? (Both means, Chicago does not need you right here).”
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
