Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued an executive order Monday barring federal immigration agents from conducting enforcement activities on city-owned properties, a direct challenge to President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois to tackle crime and illegal immigration.
Johnson’s order, part of his “Protecting Chicago Initiative,” labels city facilities as “ICE-free zones” to thwart U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the nation’s third-largest city.
“Today, we’re signing an executive order to curb this runaway administration,” the progressive Democrat mayor declared at a press conference.
“The order creates ICE-free zones.
“That means city properties and unwilling private businesses won’t be staging areas for these raids.”
Tensions with Trump Administration
The move coincides with a lawsuit filed by Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker against the Trump administration, aiming to halt the federalization and deployment of National Guard troops in Illinois.
“The Trump administration needs to stop its war on Chicago,” Johnson insisted.
“The Trump administration must end its war on Americans.
“The Trump administration must stop trying to unravel our democracy.”
Johnson accused conservatives of “pushing for a Civil War rerun,” pledging the city would push back against what he called federal overreach.
“Chicagoans won’t stand for our city being militarized as an excuse to escalate a war here,” he stated.
Pritzker Labels It ‘Trump’s Invasion’
Pritzker, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful, doubled down on Johnson’s stance over the weekend, slamming Trump’s directive as “downright outrageous and un-American.”
“Let’s call it what it is: Trump’s invasion,” Pritzker said.
After Pritzker refused to mobilize Illinois National Guard troops, Trump greenlit Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to send 400 Texas guardsmen to Illinois and Oregon to bolster federal efforts.
White House Strikes Back
The White House mocked Pritzker’s defiance, accusing the governor of putting political posturing over public safety.
“Chicago’s sliding into chaos and lawlessness because this guy cares more about flexing his anti-Trump stance on X than keeping his city safe,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said.
“Pritzker ought to be embarrassed,” she added.
Johnson’s Order
Johnson directed Chicago agencies to identify properties used by ICE within five days and post signs prohibiting federal officers from using them for immigration enforcement, processing, or staging.
“If the federal government defies this order, we’ll drag them to court,” Johnson warned, urging Trump to leave Chicago “the hell alone.”
