Chicago mayor signs order to resist potential Trump crackdown

August 30, 2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order directing city agencies on how to resist potential immigration enforcement actions threatened by the Trump administration. The order demands that federal agents "stand down" from deploying U.S. Armed Forces in Chicago, reaffirms existing city policies like body camera requirements, and prohibits local officers from participating in joint patrols with federal agents. This comes amid an escalating feud between the White House and Illinois officials, with Trump characterizing Chicago as "a killing field" while threatening to deploy troops similar to the 2,000 already stationed in Washington DC.

Who is affected

Chicago residents, particularly immigrants (more than one in five residents, with over half from Latin American countries)
Undocumented immigrants living in Chicago
Chicago law enforcement agencies and officers
Federal immigration agents and potential military personnel
City agencies that must follow the mayor's directives

What action is being taken

Mayor Johnson has signed an order directing city agencies on how to respond to immigration enforcement
The mayor is helping residents understand their rights if they encounter immigration enforcement
City officials are maintaining policies requiring law enforcement to wear body cameras and identifying information
The city is banning officers from wearing masks during enforcement actions
City officials are prohibiting local officers from participating in joint patrols with federal agents

Why it matters

The order represents direct resistance between a major city and the federal government on immigration policy
It protects Chicago's significant immigrant population (over 20% of residents) from potential enforcement actions
The conflict highlights tensions between local Democratic leadership and the Republican White House administration
It addresses concerns about federal agents concealing their identities during enforcement actions, as criticized in other cities
The dispute centers on different approaches to addressing crime, with Trump framing Chicago's situation as an emergency requiring military intervention

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC