Chicago’s mayor robustly resisted what he perceived to be an unrestrained plan by the Trump administration to send a large contingent of federal agents into the city, stated to be the third-largest in the nation, with possible implementation in the coming days. In an executive decree signed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, he declared that the Chicago Police Department would be prohibited from aiding federal officials in civil immigration enforcement or any associated patrols, traffic operations, and checkpoints during this influx.
Johnson mandated all municipal departments in the city to maintain the constitutional rights of Chicago citizens, amid potential impending militarized immigration or National Guard instigation by federal authorities. When queried at a press conference about federal agents presumably acting on instructions, Johnson retorted sharply: ‘Indeed, and I don’t entertain commands from the federal government.’
Further demonstrating his resistance to the federal surge, Johnson also denied the local police force the use of face coverings to conceal their identities, a practice widely adopted by most federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers since the beginning of the Trump administration. As per two anonymous U.S. officials, the federal influx into Chicago could commence as soon as September 5th and endure roughly 30 days.
The officials characterized the impending immigration clampdown as constituents of a more extensive effort to broaden the federal law enforcement footprint in principal cities under Democratic governance, reflecting actions taken previously during the summer in Los Angeles. In contrast to the federal administration’s recent takeover of law enforcement in Washington D.C, the operation in Chicago is predicted not to utilize national guard or military resources.
The focus of the impending operation appears solely centered on immigration issues, a departure from a wider crime reduction mandate. With a significant immigrant populace, Chicago and the state of Illinois boast among the nation’s most stringent regulations against collaboration with federal law enforcement in immigration matters.
This stance frequently renders the city and the state antithetical to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Mayor Johnson’s recent proclamation reinforces the city’s established position, asserting that neither city nor state officials have solicited or been consulted about the deployment of federal authorities and hence, compelling a halt on those systems.
Esteemed Mayor Johnson saved no critiques against President Trump during his press conference, charging the President of ‘functioning beyond the perimeters of the Constitution,’ and using federal presence in Democratically controlled cities as a retaliatory measure against his political opponents. ‘He is heedless and unmanageable,’ Johnson remarked.
‘In our country’s history, he’s been the most significant threat to our democracy,’ Johnson further added. In retort, the White House maintained the core intent behind the potential influx of federal agents was to ‘bring rampant crime under control.’ ‘If these Democrats redirected their energies towards tackling crime in their localities rather than resorting to publicity gimmicks against the President, they would inevitably cultivate safer neighborhoods for their citizens,’ the White House statement concluded.
The post Chicago Mayor Resists Trump Administration’s Plan to Send Federal Agents appeared first on Real News Now.
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