Chicago is on high alert as Mayor Brandon Johnson called on residents to “resist” looming immigration enforcement operations by the Trump administration.
Mayor Johnson, speaking at a Wednesday news conference, strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s deployment of federal troops to control riots in Los Angeles, which were triggered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Johnson characterized the federal crackdown as a “war on our culture” and urged Chicagoans to take action.
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“I am counting on all of Chicago to resist in this moment. Because whatever particular vulnerable group is targeted today, another group will be next,” Johnson stated, according to the Chicago Tribune. “This is a necessary fight for all of us to be able to push back. Whether we use the courts or whether we continue to protest or raise our voices, dissent matters in this moment. Look, [Trump] is abusing his power. We warned people though. You all know we warned people.”
City officials anticipate an imminent surge in ICE raids targeting workplaces in Chicago. Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Johnson’s chief of staff, informed reporters that federal agents are expected to deploy “tactical teams” and “mini tanks” throughout the city.
The potential federal action comes as Chicago continues to grapple with a significant undocumented immigrant population. In 2019, before the recent surge in border crossings, Illinois was home to approximately 425,000 undocumented immigrants. Despite facing a budget shortfall exceeding $1 billion, Chicago has spent over $600 million in public funds on supporting migrants since 2022.
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Tensions surrounding immigration enforcement have already led to clashes in the city. On Tuesday, seventeen individuals were arrested after anti-ICE demonstrators flooded downtown Chicago, clashing with police and vandalizing buses and police vehicles.
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) has affirmed it will not assist in federal immigration enforcement. CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling reiterated that local officers are not coordinating with federal authorities, stating, “not something we do.”
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul also voiced his opposition to the federal actions, criticizing Trump’s use of the military in Los Angeles.
“The president’s decision to federalize and deploy California’s National Guard without the consent of California state leaders is unlawful, unconstitutional and undemocratic,” Raoul said in a joint statement with 18 other Democratic attorneys general. “The federal administration should be working with local leaders to keep everyone safe, not mobilizing the military against the American people.”
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