Mayor Brandon Johnson stood by his city’s sanctuary law during a Tuesday press conference in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity and the launch of an investigation into Chicago’s policies by House Republicans.
More than 100 individuals have been arrested as part of the Trump administration’s sweeping illegal immigration crackdown, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling said Tuesday during the press briefing. In addition to ramped up enforcement in major cities such as Chicago, the Trump administration has also cranked up pressure with an executive order seeking to withhold federal funds from cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
However, Johnson remained adamantly opposed to any changes to Chicago’s strict sanctuary policy that prohibits any cooperation between local police and ICE agents.
“We will continue to protect civil and human rights and we welcome all individuals and families who want to work, live and thrive here in our beloved city,” Johnson said. “The Welcoming City Ordinance is a law and it is the law of the land here in Chicago.”
“We will uphold it, along with the complementary Illinois Trust Act to ensure that our immigrant communities are safe,” the mayor continued.
On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order, titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” which, in part, directs federal officials to ensure sanctuary jurisdictions that interfere with federal law enforcement operations do not receive federal funds. It additionally orders federal authorities to “evaluate and undertake any lawful actions” against any jurisdiction that interferes with federal enforcement operations.
The Department of Justice has since established the Sanctuary Cities Enforcement Working Group, which is tasked with identifying state and local laws or policies that are inconsistent with federal immigration initiatives and to challenge those laws when necessary.
The GOP fight against sanctuary cities escalated Monday when the Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee delivered letters to four mayors requesting internal documentation and communication into their sanctuary policies and for their presence to testify before the committee in February — with Johnson among the mayors targeted.
Johnson did not confirm whether he would testify before the House committee. The city’s legal counsel said the invitation is currently under legal review.
Moderate members of the Chicago City Council earlier in January attempted to amend the Welcoming City Ordinance, only to allow for ICE cooperation when dealing with serious criminal illegal migrants, but that effort was handedly shot down by the council’s left-wing majority.
Amid the administration’s crackdown on illegal migrants, Johnson revealed that he would team up with the Chicago Transit Authority to launch a “Know Your Rights” ad campaign. The ads will be displayed on more than 400 video screens across Chicago Transit Authority stops to guide commuters on their rights if they are visited by deportation officers.
Not all Chicago residents are happy with Johnson’s tempestuous attitude toward federal immigration enforcement.
“How do you guys sleep at night knowing that there are rapists out here that committed these heinous crimes against the children and the women?” Chicago resident Vashon Tuncle said Monday on Fox News. “How do you guys sleep at night knowing that we’re half a billion dollars in debt when it comes to these illegals?”
“How do these men sleep at night knowing that you’re putting illegal immigrants that are committing crimes over the American citizens?” he continued.
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