Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has initiated a decisive measure in anticipation of the possible return of federal agents to the city.
On Saturday morning, Mayor Johnson signed an executive order dubbed “ICE On Notice.” This directive mandates the Chicago Police Department to scrutinize any reports of unlawful actions by federal immigration officers, ensuring they face accountability for any misconduct.
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During the signing ceremony, Mayor Johnson emphasized the city’s need to stay vigilant for the potential reappearance of these federal agents in the coming spring.
“If the federal government fails to hold these unruly agents accountable, then Chicago will use every tool at its disposal to bring them to justice,” Johnson asserted.
According to the “ICE On Notice” order, Chicago police officers are required to act if they witness or are informed of any alleged breaches of state or local laws by federal agents. This includes:
- Document federal enforcement activities in accordance with CPD policy;
- Ensure that any body camera footage captured during the incident – including footage of any use of force, detentions, injuries, or other enforcement activity – is
preserved; - Seek to identify the federal supervisory officer on scene, attempt to verify the supervisory officer’s name and badge number, and record the credential verification using body-cameras-including any refusal to comply;
- Complete a report on any violation of state or local law by federal agents consistent with CPD policy;
- Immediately summon emergency medical services and render aid to any injured person on the scene
CPD must also provide any evidence of alleged felony violations to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the order states. Additionally, CPD must share data on federal immigration officers’ alleged legal violations with the pubic.
‘What the law says is that federal agents can be held accountable for state and local crimes if their actions were not necessary to further their federal obligations,” said Sheila Bedi, counsel to the mayor and City of Chicago Chief Strategy Officer.
Johnson’s office says his executive order makes Chicago “the first city in the nation to leverage local authority to pursue legal accountability for misconduct by federal immigration agents.”
“So what we’ve done is essentially Trump-proof Chicago from these military tactics that are illegal and are insane,” 6th Ward Ald. William Hall said.
“Nobody is above the law. There is no such thing as ‘absolute immunity’ in America,” Johnson said in a statement. “The lawlessness of Trump’s militarized immigration agents puts the lives and well-being of every Chicagoan in immediate danger. With today’s order, we are putting ICE on notice in our city. Chicago will not sit idly by while Trump floods federal agents into our communities and terrorizes our residents.”
ABC7 has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security which so far has not commented on Johnson’s new order.
“But whether or not the federal government will respect our local government and respect how our state functions that’s gonna be interesting to see how that plays out,” said Katarina Ramos with the National Immigrant Justice Center.
The Fraternal Order of Police is against the order. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson wrote in part, “This is just more political bluster from city hall… We will be exploring the legal jeopardy Brandon Johnson might be placing our members into.”
Johnson’s order instructs Chicago police officers to document federal enforcement activities, preserve body-camera footage from incidents, and identify federal agents on scene. The action follows the shooting of Marimar Martinez in Chicago and the killings of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez in Franklin Park, Illinois, and Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“These are abominable situations that we currently don’t have a recourse for,” said Karina Ayala-Beremejo, Instituto del Progreso Latino President and CEO. “This allows the opportunities to be evidenced to collect and record.”
The executive order does not direct CPD to arrest federal personnel.
Chicago police officials have 30 days to develop a policy to implement the order.
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