Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson unveiled an executive order Monday establishing “ICE-free zones” in the city, a move directly challenging federal immigration enforcement efforts. The directive prohibits city property and private businesses from being used as sites for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Johnson stated, “The order establishes ICE-free zones. That means that city property and unwilling private businesses will no longer serve as staging grounds for these raids.”
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the Trump administration, which labeled it as aiding “criminal illegal immigrant killers, rapists, traffickers, and gang bangers.” The White House condemned the move, framing it as a threat to public safety. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is deploying National Guard forces from other states to assist federal immigration enforcement in Chicago, conflicting with Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker’s policies that include financial aid for undocumented immigrants.
Chicago, a longstanding sanctuary city, faces ongoing violence, with at least 30 people shot and five fatalities reported over the weekend. The executive order has intensified tensions between local and federal authorities over immigration enforcement and public safety priorities.
