Chicago’s mayor rejects Trump’s plans to send troops to his city.
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Preparing for federal troops, Chicago mayor says city will stand up to Trump’s ‘tyranny’
Chicago police will not help the National Guard with immigration enforcement, mayor says. “This president is not going to come in and deputize our police department,” he says. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker: “It’s an invasion with U.S. troops if they, in fact, do that” Nearly 2,300 armed National Guard troops are currently in Washington, DC, after Trump declared a public crime emergency in the nation’s capital on Aug. 11, even as violent crime was down 26% from last year. The White House has also mentioned Baltimore, New York City, Los Angeles and Oakland, California as potential federal targets for a crackdown.
Johnson on Aug. 30 signed an executive order he said lays out “how we can stand up against this tyranny.”
Chicago police will not help the National Guard with immigration enforcement or related activities such as conducting traffic stops and manning checkpoints, according to the order.
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“This is about making a very clear distinction between what our law enforcement engages in versus what federal agents engage in,” Johnson said at a news conference. “This president is not going to come in and deputize our police department.”
More: Chicago is up next for the National Guard. ‘They’re screaming for us,’ says Trump
Chicagoans expect the White House to bring its immigration crackdown to the city sometime after Labor Day.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said no one from the administration has talked to him about federal forces coming in.
“It’s an invasion with U.S. troops if they, in fact, do that,” Pritzker told CBS News.
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Trump went after Pritzker on Aug. 30, writing on social media that Pritzker is “CRAZY” if he thinks he doesn’t need Trump’s help fighting crime.
“He better straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social site.
Flanked by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, left, and other Illinois politicians and community leaders, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at an Aug. 25, 2025, news conference to address President Donald Trump’s plan to send National Guard troops into the city.
Pritzker has warned Chicagoans to expect military checkpoints with “unidentified officers in masks while taking their kids to school.” But he asked protesters to refrain from giving federal troops reason to engage.
More: ‘Keep it peaceful,’ Chicago top cop warns ahead of Trump National Guard deployment
Nearly 2,300 armed National Guard troops are currently in Washington, DC, after Trump declared a public crime emergency in the nation’s capital on Aug. 11, even as data from Washington police show violent crime was down 26% from last year.
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Violent crime rates are also falling in Chicago, according to police department data.
Trump has also mentioned Baltimore, New York City, Los Angeles and Oakland, California ‒ each cities with Democratic mayors in states led by Democratic governors ‒ as potential federal targets.
More: Exclusive − Trump doesn’t want long-term occupation of American cities, Vance says
Johnson said his executive order ensures that Chicagoans know their rights and every city agency knows what it’s supposed to do to protect those rights.
Calling Trump “the biggest threat to our democracy that we’ve experienced in the history of our country,” Johnson asserted: “I don’t take orders from the federal government.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chicago mayor says city will stand up to Trump’s ‘tyranny’
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson rejects Trump’s immigration crackdown plan “He’s the biggest threat to our democracy”
The move is part of a broader effort by the White House to crack down on illegal immigration. Chicago’s crime rate is more than double that of New Delhi, according to the city’s police chief. The city is home to some of the country’s most violent criminals. The move is expected to last until the end of the month, when it will be reviewed by the courts. The White House says the move is necessary to protect the public from the dangers of illegal immigration in the U.S. and around the world. It is not expected to affect federal law enforcement operations in the city, which are already under the control of the Department of Homeland Security and the Chicago Police Department.
The mayor has signed an executive order on Saturday which will bar Chicago police from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement or any related patrols, traffic stops and checkpoints during the surge.
The mayor’s order also prohibits Chicago police from wearing face coverings to conceal their identities, a practice that has been largely adopted by federal agents, particularly from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since the Trump administration took charge this year. Johnson stated that the city will not “take orders from the federal government” and directed city departments to protect the constitutional rights of Chicago residents, PTI reported.
Trump administration’s justification and threats The federal surge is reportedly part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to expand the federal law enforcement presence in major Democratic-run cities, similar to an operation that took place in Los Angeles earlier this summer, PTI said.
Unlike the recent federal takeover of policing in Washington, DC, the Chicago operation is not expected to involve the National Guard or military, PTI said, quoting some officials who wished to remain anonymous.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump commented on Chicago’s crime rate on his Truth Social platform, specially criticizing Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, by stating “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.”
The White House has insisted that the deployment is about “cracking down on crime.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt cited some “unknown” statistics, comparing Chicago’s murder rate to that of Pakistan’s Islamabad and India’s New Delhi. Leavitt said that“Chicago’s murder rate is more than double that ofIslamabadand nearly 15 times higher than that of New Delhi,” a report by Hindustan Times said.
Chicago’s stance and crime trends Chicago is home to a large immigrant population, and both the city and the state of Illinois have some of the country’s strongest rules against cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts, which has frequently put them at odds with President Donald Trump ‘s mass deportation agenda.
Mayor Johnson accused President Trump of “behaving outside the bounds of the Constitution” and seeking to use the federal presence as a political retribution against his rivals, adding that “He’s the biggest threat to our democracy that we’ve experienced in the history of our country.”
Despite the White House warnings, Chicago police data cited by Bloomberg, shows a decline in crime. Murders reportedly fell 32% to 188 in the first half of the year, the lowest point since 2014, with overall violent crime declining by 23%, and vehicle theft dropping 28%. This data contrasts with the administration’s rhetoric about the city being out of control.
Chicago mayor signs executive order to resist potential federal takeover
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order putting several measures in place should President Donald Trump send the National Guard or other federal troops to the city. Johnson said at a press conference that Chicago officials have received “credible reports” that it has “days, not weeks, before our cities see some type of militarized activity by the federal government” He added that it’s still “unclear” what this will look like. This comes after the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., announced by Trump earlier in August, despite reported declining crime rates. Trump disputed these rates, and ordered a federal investigation into them. Trump reiterated this in a Saturday Truth Social post criticizing Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who previously rejected any military deployment plans in Chicago, and called a potential Chicago takeover ‘unprecedented, unwarranted’
He added that it’s still “unclear” what this will look like.
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“We may see militarized immigration enforcement. We may also see National Guard troops. We may even see active-duty military and armed vehicles in our streets. We have not called for this,” Johnson told reporters. “Our people have not asked for this. But nevertheless, we find ourselves having to respond to this.”
Federal control in cities
This comes after the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., announced by Trump earlier in August, despite reported declining crime rates. Trump disputed these rates, and ordered a federal investigation into them. Chicago’s executive order also referenced data showing crime is going down, such as reduced homicides by more than 30% and robberies by 35%.
National Guard troops were sent to Los Angeles in June amid protests against United States Immigration Customs and Enforcement raids. Trump has implied Chicago could be another city that sees troops coming into the area.
“Chicago’s a mess,” Trump said earlier this week. “You have an incompetent mayor. Grossly incompetent. And we’ll straighten that one out probably next.”
Trump reiterated this in a Saturday Truth Social post criticizing Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
“JB Pritzker, the weak and pathetic Governor of Illinois, just said that he doesn’t need help in preventing CRIME,” Trump said. “He is CRAZY!!! He better straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming!”
Pritzker previously rejected any military deployment plans in Chicago, and called a potential Chicago takeover “unprecedented, unwarranted” and “un-American” in a statement.
On Saturday, Johnson reiterated this idea, vowing to protect the Constitution and saying “we do not want to see tanks in our streets.”
“We do not want to see families ripped apart. We do not want grandmothers thrown into the back of unmarked vans. We don’t want to see homeless Chicagoans harassed or disappeared by federal agents,” Johnson said.
Reuters reported that White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed Johnson’s remarks in a statement.
“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,” she said.
What does the executive order say?
The order states that the Chicago Police Department will remain a locally controlled law enforcement agency. They will not assist with federal patrols, arrests or immigration enforcement.
It also says federal agents operating in Chicago should comply with CPD policies when it comes to masks, body cameras and officer identification. While the Chicago Police are directed to wear masks, federal agents are “urged” to refrain from donning them.
Part of what the order does is establish a “Protective Chicago”initiative to promote the “well-being and safeguard the rights of all Chicagoans.” This initiative will make information available regarding residents’ rights should they encounter federal immigration enforcement activities around schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, places of worship and other “sensitive locations.”
Designated city departments and agencies are tasked with identifying the threats from federal law and immigration enforcement and military deployment, and from budget cuts by the Trump administration.
Johnson said he is looking at any legal avenues available to prevent a takeover, including “courts if that’s necessary.”
Chicago mayor signs order to resist possible Trump troop deployment
Mayor Brandon Johnson says order aims to protect residents from ‘threats and actions of out-of-control administration’. Johnson said order directs Chicago law enforcement officers not to collaborate with US military personnel on patrols or during immigration enforcement activities. CNN reported on Friday that the Trump administration has been preparing to carry out a “major immigration enforcement operation” in Chicago as early as next week. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson slammed the Chicago mayor’s executive order, saying “cracking down on crime should not be a partisan issue” and that “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,” she said. Trump earlier this month said that he was considering whether to expand his National Guard troop deployment from Washington, DC, to other major cities across the country. The president, who took office in January for a second term, has pursued a hardline, anti-immigration agenda.
The mayor of Chicago has signed an executive order seeking to protect residents against a possible decision by United States President Donald Trump’s administration to deploy federal troops to the city.
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced on Saturday that he was signing the so-called Protecting Chicago Initiative amid what he said were “credible reports” that Chicago could see militarised activity by the federal government within days.
“It is unclear at this time what that will look like exactly,” the mayor said at a news conference. “We may see militarised immigration enforcement. We may also see National Guard troops. We may even see active duty military and armed vehicles in our streets.”
Among other things, the order directs Chicago law enforcement officers not to collaborate with US military personnel on patrols or during immigration enforcement activities, Johnson told reporters.
He described the move as “the most sweeping campaign of any city in the country to protect ourselves from the threats and actions of this out-of-control administration”.
Johnson’s announcement comes after Trump earlier this month said that he was considering whether to expand his National Guard troop deployment from Washington, DC, to other major cities across the country.
Trump called up the National Guard in what he said was a push to address crime in the US capital. The Republican leader has since credited the deployment with cutting down rates of violence in the city.
But data from the Metropolitan Police Department showed violent crime in Washington, DC, was already at a 30-year low, and critics warned that the crackdown could end up being a test run for the broader militarisation of US cities.
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Earlier this week, the top Democrat in the US House of Representatives, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, said in an interview with CNN that Trump had “no authority” to send federal troops to Chicago.
The US Constitution gives the power of policing to the states.
JB Pritzker, the Democratic governor of Illinois, where Chicago is located, also rejected the idea.
“Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families,” Pritzker said in a statement.
Citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, CNN reported on Friday that the Trump administration has been preparing to carry out a “major immigration enforcement operation” in Chicago as early as next week.
According to CNN, White House officials said those plans are separate from Trump’s idea of sending National Guard troops to Chicago for a broader crackdown on crime.
The president, who took office in January for a second term, has pursued a hardline, anti-immigration agenda and pledged to carry out the “largest deportation operation” in US history.
The administration has justified its push by saying it is deporting “criminals” who are in the US illegally. It has reached deals with third countries to take in deported asylum seekers and migrants.
But US media reports over the past months have shown that many people have been swept up in the immigration raids, including some American citizens and permanent residents with no criminal records.
In June, Trump sent 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles after an intensified wave of arrests by US immigration authorities prompted massive protests and confrontations between demonstrators and police.
On Saturday, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson slammed the Chicago mayor’s executive order, saying in a statement shared by US media outlets that “cracking down on crime should not be a partisan issue”.
“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,” Jackson said.
During his news conference, Johnson, the mayor, said it remained unclear whether Trump would go ahead with his plans in the city.
“He could change his mind, he could reverse course – in fact, I encourage him to do that,” Johnson said, stressing that Chicago – the country’s third largest city – does not want its residents rounded up off the streets.
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“We do not want to see families ripped apart. We do not want grandmothers thrown into the backs of unmarked vans. We don’t want to see homeless Chicagoans harassed or disappeared by federal agents,” he added.
‘Not Needed’: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Rejects Donald Trump’s ‘Threatened’ Troop Deployment
US News ‘Not Needed’: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Rejects Donald Trump’s ‘Threatened’ Troop Deployment. Johnson said city police will not work with National Guard troops or federal agents if US President Donald Trump deploys them to the city. White House accused the mayor of suffering from “Trump derangement syndrome” and said Democrats should focus on fighting crime instead of opposing the president. Trump has already sent federal officers and National Guard. troops to Washington DC, and has threatened similar action in other cities, including Baltimore. Trump said the governor was “weak and pathetic” for refusing outside help to tackle crime. He warned that if the situation does not improve, federal intervention could follow. Six people died and 24 were injured in shootings in Chicago last week.
Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Saturday to limit the role of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in the city, responding to what he said are President Donald Trump’s threats to deploy them to Illinois.
Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson (AP file photo)
“We must take immediate, drastic action to protect our people,” Johnson said. He added that if needed, the city would take the fight to court, as per NBC News.
What Executive Order Does
The new order clarifies the role of Chicago police officers and sets limits on their cooperation with federal agents or military personnel. It prohibits police from joining military patrols, assisting with civil immigration enforcement, and covering their faces or hiding police logos on uniforms.
Johnson said, “This order affirms that the Chicago Police Department will not collaborate with military personnel on patrols or checkpoints. Our officers are focused on reducing crime, not being deputized for the president’s agenda.”
‘He Is Crazy’: Trump Slams Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
US President Donald Trump on Saturday criticized Illinois governor JB Pritzker after six people died and 24 others were injured in shootings in Chicago last week.
Trump said the governor was “weak and pathetic” for refusing outside help to tackle crime. He warned that if the situation does not improve, federal intervention could follow.
Trump’s National Guard Troops Deployment ‘Threat’
Trump has already sent federal officers and National Guard troops to Washington DC, and has threatened similar action in other cities, including Baltimore. Democratic governors from more than a dozen states issued a joint statement this week, calling such deployments an “abuse of power” and saying they undermine the mission of the National Guard.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser also criticized the federal surge, saying it damaged trust between police and communities.
Although Trump has not officially announced plans to send troops to Chicago, reports suggest the Pentagon is preparing for possible deployment.
According to NBC News report, federal agents may arrive in Chicago soon to increase immigration enforcement.
Johnson said the city has received “credible reports” that some type of federal action could take place within days.
“We may see militarized immigration enforcement, National Guard troops, or even armed vehicles on our streets,” Johnson said.
White House Response
The White House dismissed Johnson’s order. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson accused the mayor of suffering from “Trump derangement syndrome” and said Democrats should focus on fighting crime instead of opposing the president.
Trump’s border advisor Tom Homan earlier told Fox News that Chicago is a priority target for federal action because it is a “sanctuary city.” He said, “Get out of the way, because we’re going to do it.”
Vice President JD Vance also commented during an event in Wisconsin. He said the president does not plan to “force” troops on cities but argued that leaders like Johnson should welcome federal help.
“Why are they angrier about Donald Trump offering help than they are about carjackings and murders in their streets?” Vance said.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/us/politics/chicago-order-trump-immigration-crackdown.html