Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order Saturday instructing city police not to cooperate with federal immigration agents or military personnel if President Donald Trump deploys them to the city for planned immigration enforcement operations.
Johnson, a Democrat and outspoken critic of the president, announced the directive during a press conference alongside other city leaders.
He warned that federal action in Chicago could come within days. “We do not have the luxury of time,” Johnson said.
“We have received credible reports that we have days, not weeks, before our city sees some type of militarized activity by the federal government. It is unclear at this time what that will look like exactly.”
The executive order lays out a framework for city employees and law enforcement.
According to the directive, officers are required to remain in uniform, identify themselves clearly, and comply with body camera policies during all operations.
The order also instructs officers not to wear face coverings so they can be distinguished from federal agents.
Johnson said the order was designed to provide a “blueprint” for how city workers and residents can respond.
“This is about how we can stand up against this tyranny,” he said.
Johnson’s order further “urges” federal agents to adopt similar transparency measures, including avoiding face masks, and to follow procedures consistent with local policing.
He demanded that President Trump “stand down” from sending military forces into Chicago.
“We will use the courts if that’s necessary,” Johnson added.
BREAKING: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signs executive order to limit Chicago authorities from working with federal law enforcement and to try to stop Trump from sending the national guard
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 31, 2025
He doesn’t want his city to become safer
Unreal pic.twitter.com/fd4Y3iMUSW
The move comes after Trump earlier this month deployed the Department of Homeland Security and National Guard to Washington, D.C., in response to crime in the nation’s capital.
At the time, Trump suggested that Chicago would be “next” for federal intervention.
In addition to possible troop deployments, Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan has signaled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations may soon expand into other sanctuary cities, specifically naming New York, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle as potential targets.
The White House strongly criticized Johnson’s order, characterizing it as political maneuvering rather than serious governance.
“If these Democrats focused on fixing crime in their own cities instead of doing publicity stunts to criticize the President, their communities would be much safer,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement. “Cracking down on crime should not be a partisan issue.”
🚨 HUGE NEWS: Much of Chicago's illegal alien constituent base will soon be swept up by the Trump administration, as 47 is planning a "major immigration enforcement operation" in the city. The mayor is already sweating over this development.pic.twitter.com/GQXtRMlGrl
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 30, 2025
Chicago has been at the center of repeated clashes between city officials and the federal government over issues of crime and immigration.
Johnson’s directive is the latest example of the city’s effort to resist federal involvement in local law enforcement, even as violent crime rates and immigration enforcement remain key points of national debate.
The executive order is expected to set the stage for legal disputes between Chicago and the federal government if federal personnel are deployed in the coming days.
For now, Johnson and city officials have pledged that local police will not cooperate with federal immigration raids or military patrols, a stance that could escalate tensions between the city and the White House.
Johnson is a moron and a communist. He needs to be perp walked to COOK County jail for prosecution.
Pritzger and Mini-Brandon are inciting riot and insurrection. Where are the J6 Committee to call for their arrests?
They cannot obstruct or interfere as that would be a crime.
They do not have to help
It is sad that a politician would not take free help to make their city/town/state safer imo
I hope the residents remember this when voting
Another disgusting sub human that should never have held any position of authority.