Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) signed an executive order Monday establishing “ICE-free zones” while slamming enforcement agents as a “rogue” and “reckless group” that were “roaming throughout our city.”
The order, effective immediately, forbids Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using “city-owned or controlled parking lots, vacant lots, and garages as staging areas, processing locations, or operations bases.”
In a press conference, Johnson said the directive was needed after agents recently used multiple city sites to coordinate immigration raids.
“Such use of City property undermines community trust and runs counter to Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance,” Johnson’s office said.
At a press conference, Johnson accused federal agents of acting without accountability.
“We have a rogue, reckless group of heavily armed, masked individuals roaming throughout our city that are not accountable to the people of Chicago,” he said.
“If Congress won’t check this administration, then Chicago will,” Johnson added.
The move comes shortly after Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) condemned President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy hundreds of Texas National Guard troops to Chicago, calling it “Trump’s invasion.” Trump’s order, signed by War Secretary Pete Hegseth, allows up to 400 Texas troops to operate in Illinois and Oregon for 60 days “with the potential for an extension.”
Addressing the troop deployment at the presser, Johnson added: “Let me just say that we are unequivocally going to continue to reject the military occupation of our city. The Trump administration must end the war on Chicago. The Trump administration must end this war against Americans, the Trump administration must end its attempt to dismantle our democracy.”
Watch above via Fox 32 Chicago.
The post Chicago Mayor Creates ‘ICE-Free Zones’ to Block Raids by ‘Rogue’ Arrest Teams first appeared on Mediaite.
