A. Rahman
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Saturday signed an executive order designed to have the city’s police department document and investigate alleged illegal activity by federal immigration agents, giving prosecutors evidence that could lead to criminal charges under state or local law. The move marks a rare effort by a major U.S. city to hold federal agents accountable for actions during immigration enforcement operations.
The order, titled “ICE On Notice,” directs officers from the Chicago Police Department to carefully record any encounters with agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that appear to violate the law or constitutional rights. Officers are to preserve body‑camera footage of those incidents, identify supervising federal officers present, and complete detailed incident reports.
Once evidence is collected and documented, the order instructs the police to refer cases to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office where prosecutors can determine whether charges are warranted. Johnson and city officials stressed that the order is meant to ensure accountability, support victims and protect residents.
“No one is above the law,” Johnson said in a statement announcing the order. “Chicago will not sit idly by while federal agents flood our communities and terrorize our residents.” He framed the move as a response to what he described as aggressive tactics by immigration agents operating under the Trump administration’s enforcement push.
City officials also pointed to a broader national context. Local leaders in other cities are expressing similar concerns about federal enforcement activity, and a group of district attorneys recently formed a coalition to assist in prosecuting law enforcement officers who violate state laws. New York’s governor has proposed legislation that would limit cooperation agreements between local police and ICE, illustrating a wider political debate over immigration enforcement.
Not all reactions have been positive. Some law enforcement advocates have criticized the order, arguing it could complicate cooperation between police and federal authorities. Critics say federal agents are trained to operate within the law and that local investigations could undermine unified efforts to address criminal activity by undocumented immigrants.
Officials in the Department of Homeland Security pushed back against Johnson’s claims, saying allegations of misconduct are unfounded and that agency personnel undergo extensive training and adhere to strict professional standards. The department also said local police have been unwilling to work with federal agents, reflecting rising tension between city leadership and national immigration policy.
The executive order arrives at a time when Chicago and other cities are bracing for another possible wave of federal immigration activity this spring, intensifying debate about public safety, local control, and immigrant rights.
Summary:
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order called “ICE On Notice,” directing the city’s police department to document alleged illegal activity by federal immigration agents and preserve evidence, including body‑camera video, for possible prosecution by Cook County prosecutors. The order responds to concerns about aggressive immigration enforcement and aims to increase accountability, though it has drawn criticism from law enforcement advocates and federal officials.
