A political fight is brewing in Chicago that could define the balance between federal authority and local control in the face of soaring crime and unchecked illegal immigration. Over the weekend, Mayor Brandon Johnson signed what he called the “Protecting Chicago” executive order, aimed squarely at blocking President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy federal forces to the Windy City.
The directive is sweeping. It requires all federal officers to follow city policies on policing, restricts Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel from “wearing masks” during arrests, and orders them to identify themselves by agency and badge number. The order also bars Chicago police from participating in joint patrols or operations with federal agents, the National Guard, or any military personnel tied to immigration enforcement.
Johnson claims federal assistance would amount to “militarized activity” and says reports suggest troops could arrive as soon as Friday, September 5. “We have received credible reports that we have days, not weeks, before our city sees some type of militarized activity by the federal government,” he warned. “(Trump) could change his mind. He could reverse course. In fact, I encourage him to do that.”
The mayor argued that Trump’s plan would be more harmful than the wave of violent crime itself. His order declared that “the deployment of federal military forces in Chicago without the consent of local authorities undermines democratic norms, violates the City’s sovereignty, threatens civil liberties, and risks escalating violence rather than securing the peace.”
Painting a dire picture, Johnson told reporters, “The City of Chicago will do everything in our power to defend our democracy and protect our communities. With this executive order, we send a resounding message to the federal government: We do not need, nor want, an unconstitutional and illegal military occupation of our city. We do not want military checkpoints or armored vehicles on our streets, and we do not want to see families ripped apart.”
To conservatives, the standoff underscores a recurring theme: liberal leaders resisting federal enforcement when it comes to crime and immigration, even as their communities face devastating consequences from both. Chicago’s soaring violence has been a grim national story for years. The White House, pointing to its success in Washington, D.C., called Johnson’s move a “publicity stunt.” Earlier this month, President Trump federalized the Metropolitan Police Department in D.C. and paired them with National Guard troops. Officials credited the move with an astonishing 50 percent drop in homicides in just 11 days.
President Trump himself weighed in directly on Truth Social, not only blasting Mayor Johnson but also training his sights on Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. “Six people were killed, and 24 people were shot, in Chicago last weekend, and JB Pritzker, the weak and pathetic Governor of Illinois, just said that he doesn’t need help in preventing CRIME. He is CRAZY!!! He better straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming! MAGA. President DJT.”
Pritzker, like Johnson, called the deployment “an invasion,” escalating rhetoric that portrays federal crime-fighting efforts as more dangerous than gang violence or illegal activity itself. Yet both officials admitted they have received no formal notice from the White House regarding troop deployments.
Behind the scenes, Trump officials are moving forward. Plans are underway to utilize the Great Lakes Naval Station, located 35 miles north of Chicago, as a base for immigration enforcement sweeps. Trump Border Czar Tom Homan confirmed that a “large contingent” of forces is being dedicated to the city.
Not every Democrat in Chicago is falling in line with the mayor’s defiance. Alderman Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) struck a more practical tone, acknowledging that federal backup could make a difference. “We saw that in Washington D.C., Mayor Bowser acknowledged a decrease in crime, in a city that was supposedly already seeing a decrease,” Lopez said. “If we can decrease beyond the published decrease that the mayor keeps touting, what’s wrong with that?”
The clash reflects a larger question: who bears responsibility when local leaders fail to protect their citizens? Chicago’s leadership insists that federal help is an overreach. But to many Americans, federal intervention looks like a common-sense step when violent crime spirals out of control and immigration enforcement is deliberately weakened.
The coming days will show whether Chicago doubles down on resistance or whether the White House pushes forward regardless. Either way, this showdown is shaping up to be about more than Chicago—it’s a test of whether public safety takes precedence over politics.
Mayor Johnson and Gov. Pritzker are both worried that Trumps directive for policing the lawlessness in Illinois, specifically Chicago will bear fruit and show the people just how disingenuous the Democrats are about protecting their citezens. This intern will educate the people of Illinois so that never again will democrats be elected to state or federal office.
The Democrats want masks removed on ICE agents, but allow masks on protesters. Why? We need a change that disallows masks of any kind. Masks cause too many people to hide their nefarious deeds.
Don’t understand this requirement.