Credited from: BBC
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order designed to resist the Trump administration's plans for increased immigration enforcement and potential troop deployment in the city. This order, known as the "Protecting Chicago Initiative," explicitly prohibits the Chicago Police Department from assisting federal authorities in immigration enforcement activities or joint operations with military personnel, aiming to protect the rights of residents amidst looming federal intervention, according to Reuters, The Hill, and Al Jazeera.
During a press conference, Johnson remarked that he does not take orders from the federal government, emphasizing that Chicagoans should not fear militarized immigration policing or military presence in their neighborhoods. He condemned Trump for what he termed "reckless" behavior that threatens the constitutional rights of citizens, as noted by HuffPost, Le Monde, and BBC.
The executive order mandates that local police officers must wear their uniforms visibly and not use face coverings, differentiating them from federal immigration agents who often conceal their identities. Johnson is adamant that the city will not acquiesce to what he sees as a politically motivated operation aimed at suppressing communities, as reported by South China Morning Post and India Times.
On social media, President Trump criticized the violence in Chicago, asserting that local leaders must act or face federal assistance. He stated, "Six people were killed, and 24 people were shot in Chicago last weekend," insinuating that the mayor and governor are failing to manage the situation. This sentiment echoes through statements from Newsweek and Los Angeles Times.
The White House reacted to Johnson's order by labeling it a "publicity stunt," emphasizing that crime should not be politicized. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated, "If these Democrats focused on fixing crime in their own cities instead of doing publicity stunts to criticize the President, their communities would be much safer," according to Reuters and NPR.