On Monday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order that prohibits federal immigration officials from using city property for their operations.
This new directive stops Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from utilizing city-owned spaces like parking lots or vacant areas for their staging and processing tasks. It requires city departments to act within five days, mandates that city employees report any infractions right away, and encourages local businesses and community organizations to adopt similar measures.
Last month, ICE initiated an operation, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, which specifically targeted immigrants lacking legal status in Chicago. Both Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed concerns about the surge in federal immigration enforcement in the city.
Johnson stated, “We will not tolerate ICE agents who violate the constitutional rights of our residents, and we won’t let the federal government ignore local governments.” He also referenced a recent incident involving ICE officers and Chicago Alderperson Jesse Fuentes, noting that residents were subjected to tear gas.
With this order, the mayor emphasized that Chicago is taking a stand to protect the rights of residents and immigrant communities, reinforcing democratic values.
However, Tricia McLaughlin, a deputy secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, criticized Johnson’s decision, accusing him of demonizing ICE and law enforcement efforts. She pointed out that the mayor had previously prevented local police from intervening during protests that turned violent.
“These reckless policies jeopardize public safety,” she asserted, adding that while serious criminals are released onto the streets, law enforcement personnel continue to risk their lives in a challenging environment.
Since the start of the operation, DHS reported that ICE has arrested over 1,000 individuals. The Chicago metropolitan area is home to roughly 1.7 million immigrants, according to the Vera Institute of Justice.
The increase in ICE activities has led to concerns and protests among migrant communities in and around Chicago. Tensions escalated further when two individuals, one of whom was fatally shot by customs agents, were accused of assaulting federal law enforcement during a recent incident near an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois.
In a related earlier action, Johnson signed an executive order aimed at safeguarding the protest rights of Chicago residents against immigration enforcement measures. This order called for the Chicago Police Department to collaborate with protest organizers in developing alternate plans if federal law enforcement interfered with demonstrations.
