Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is standing firm on his commitment to protect immigrant communities, and it’s drawing the rage of President Donald Trump.
Earlier this week, Mayor Johnson signed a new executive order establishing Chicago as an “ICE Free Zone,” prohibiting federal immigration agents from using any city-owned property for immigration enforcement operations.
The order builds on his Protecting Chicago Initiative, aimed at safeguarding the constitutional rights of residents and curbing what he describes as the “reckless behavior” of federal agents operating in the city.
“We will not tolerate ICE agents violating our residents’ constitutional rights, nor will we allow the federal government to disregard our local authority,” said Johnson. “ICE agents are detaining elected officials, tear-gassing protestors, children, and Chicago police officers, and abusing Chicago residents. We will not stand for that in our city.”
The executive order comes after reports revealed that ICE had used Chicago Public Schools parking lots and other city-owned spaces as staging areas for operations, a direct violation of the city’s Welcoming City Ordinance.
Johnson’s order directs all city departments to identify spaces that could be used by ICE and post clear signage reading:
“This property is owned and/or controlled by the City of Chicago. It may not be used for civil immigration enforcement, including as a staging area, processing location, or operations base.”
Departments have five days to comply, including measures such as locking gates and limiting access to city property. The order also encourages local businesses and community organizations to join the effort, distributing “Know Your Rights” materials and signage declaring their spaces off-limits to immigration enforcement.
But while immigrant-rights advocates and progressive organizations have applauded the move, it has sparked backlash from conservatives, and from Trump, who took to social media to call for Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to be jailed.
“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect ICE Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, continuing a pattern of calling for the imprisonment of political opponents.
Neither Johnson nor Pritzker has been accused of any wrongdoing. Both have been vocal opponents of Trump’s immigration policies and the federal deployment of National Guard troops in Democratic-led cities.
Still, Johnson remains undeterred. His administration insists the ICE Free Zone is not about defiance, but about protecting community trust and ensuring constitutional policing.
“The use of city resources for these actions erodes trust between immigrant communities and the city,” Johnson’s office stated. “We are taking swift and decisive action to protect the safety, dignity, and human rights of every Chicagoan, regardless of race, religion, immigration status, or national origin.”
Photo Credit: Chicago Mayor’s Office
