Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he isn’t working alone when it comes to handling federal immigration enforcement. On Wednesday, the mayor revealed that he is in constant contact with leaders from other sanctuary cities to figure out the best ways to block federal agents from carrying out deportations.
Speaking at the National Press Club, Johnson explained that he has been trading strategies with mayors like Jacob Frey in Minneapolis and Michelle Wu in Boston. The goal, he said, is to learn from each other on how to best protect their residents from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
He specifically mentioned looking to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for advice on governing while under pressure from the Trump administration.
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This coordination comes at a volatile moment. President Donald Trump recently took to social media to call for an end to sanctuary cities—places that limit how much local police work with federal immigration agents. His comments followed a chaotic and deadly series of events in Minneapolis involving Department of Homeland Security officers.
Two people, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, were shot and killed during confrontations related to “rapid-response” networks.
These are local groups that track ICE vehicles and show up to intervene when agents try to make arrests. The situation is currently under investigation, especially regarding the death of Pretti. While Pretti had a permit to carry a concealed weapon, bystander video appears to contradict initial official reports, suggesting a Border Patrol agent may have had possession of Pretti’s gun before shots were fired.
Two agents have since been placed on leave.
The tension isn’t limited to Minneapolis. In Boston, Mayor Wu has refused to back down on her non-cooperation policies, leading to a lawsuit from the Department of Justice. Meanwhile, reports from Portland describe violent clashes where protesters attacked journalists and allegedly planned to use lasers to distract law enforcement aircraft.
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Back in Chicago, Mayor Johnson is doubling down. He highlighted his executive order creating “ICE-Free Zones,” which stops federal agents from setting up operations on city property without a warrant.
He noted that because this hadn’t been done anywhere else in the country, his team had to build the rules from scratch. Johnson also warned that he is looking for ways to hold federal agents criminally responsible if they step out of line, stating he wants Chicago to be the first city to effectively hold ICE accountable for misconduct.
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