Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called on residents Wednesday to “resist” the Trump administration’s latest immigration enforcement push, warning that President Donald Trump’s deployment of federal personnel is a broader threat to civil liberties.
Johnson’s comments came during a news conference as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity increases nationwide and federal forces continue to respond to violence in Los Angeles.
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“I am counting on all of Chicago to resist in this moment,” Johnson said, according to the Chicago Tribune.
“Because whatever particular vulnerable group is targeted today, another group will be next. 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.”
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The remarks follow a wave of anti-ICE demonstrations across several cities, including Chicago, where 17 individuals were arrested on Tuesday after protesters disrupted downtown traffic and vandalized police vehicles and public buses.
Local officials expect ICE operations in the city to escalate in the coming days.
Johnson’s chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, told reporters that tactical teams are likely to be deployed and warned of a “militarized presence” involving what she referred to as “mini tanks.”
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She said federal immigration agents would focus on workplace enforcement actions.
Despite a reported budget shortfall of more than $1 billion, the City of Chicago has allocated over $600 million since 2022 toward migrant services.
According to Pew Research Center data, Illinois was home to approximately 425,000 illegal immigrants as of 2019, a number believed to have grown significantly under relaxed enforcement during the Biden-Harris administration.
In response to the anticipated federal operations, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling emphasized that local officers will not assist in ICE efforts.
“That is not something we do,” Snelling said, affirming that CPD will not coordinate with federal immigration authorities.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul also criticized the Trump administration’s actions, specifically the president’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles without the formal request or consent of California state leadership.
“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 alongside 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.”
Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom has also condemned the federal response.
Earlier this week, Newsom said that Trump’s immigration actions were “traumatizing our communities.”
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), speaking to CNN on Wednesday, said the president “started” the protests.
President Trump has defended the deployments, arguing that the rising violence and lawlessness in sanctuary jurisdictions required immediate federal action to protect citizens and support immigration enforcement.
On Thursday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker appeared before the House Oversight Committee to testify alongside other Democratic governors from states with sanctuary policies.
Governors Tim Walz of Minnesota and Kathy Hochul of New York also participated in the hearing, defending their decisions to limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
The Trump administration continues to expand federal law enforcement presence in cities where protests have turned violent, emphasizing that federal agents and military personnel will remain in place as long as necessary to restore order and support ICE operations.
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I’m beginning to wonder whether or not peace will be brought back to these violence-prone cities before World War Three ( with Iran ) kicks off properly.
Folks need to remember that WWIII will not be quite like its forerunners – THIS TIME the violence and destruction will take place in everybodys’ back-yards -and NOT thousands of miles away where OTHER PEOPLE are the only ones directly involved and KILLED.
Wake Up America !
This country stands FOR much more than bitterness and envy – The Constitution sets out what should STILL be ALL OUR HOPES and determinations for a Law-Abiding and FREE America for ALL Americans.