Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order preventing local police from collaborating with National Guard troops or federal agents amid threats of deployment by President Trump.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, took decisive action on Saturday by signing an executive order that prohibits the city’s police officers from collaborating with National Guard troops or federal agents. This move comes in response to President Donald Trump’s threats to deploy these forces to the Windy City.
During a news conference attended by city leaders, Johnson emphasized the intent behind the order. “This executive order makes it emphatically clear that this president is not going to come in and deputize our police department,” he stated.
The executive order clarifies that while Chicago police will continue to enforce state and local laws, they will not engage in joint operations with the National Guard or federal agents. This includes activities such as patrols, arrests, immigration enforcement, and other law enforcement actions.
Johnson expressed his commitment to protecting civil liberties and the community, saying, “We will protect our Constitution, we will protect our city, and we will protect our people.” He voiced strong opposition to the idea of military presence in the city, stating, “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.”
The order also mandates that city police officers wear their official uniforms, clearly identify themselves, and adhere to body camera protocols. Officers are instructed not to wear masks, ensuring they can be easily distinguished from any federal operations.
Johnson reiterated, “The Chicago Police Department will not collaborate with military personnel on police patrols or civil immigration enforcement. We will not have our police officers who are working hard every single day to drive down crime deputized to do traffic stops and checkpoints for the president.”
The executive order highlights concerns regarding the deployment of federal military forces in Chicago without local consent, stating that such actions “undermine democratic norms, violate the City’s sovereignty, threaten civil liberties, and risk escalating violence rather than securing the peace.”
This executive order arises amid ongoing tensions between Johnson, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, and Trump regarding the potential deployment of National Guard troops to combat crime in Chicago. Johnson has pointed to recent data indicating a decline in violent crime, with homicides and robberies decreasing by over 30% and shootings dropping by nearly 40% in the past year.
Pritzker has also issued warnings to Trump, asserting that any federal deployment without the state’s request would be “unconstitutional” and “un-American.”
In response to the Democratic leaders’ statements, Trump criticized both Pritzker and Johnson, labeling Pritzker as “incompetent” and Johnson as “no better.”
The White House dismissed Johnson’s executive order, suggesting that Democrats were politicizing efforts to address crime. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated, “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.”
In light of the escalating situation, Johnson mentioned that he is considering all legal and legislative measures to prevent federal intervention, including the possibility of lawsuits. “We will use the courts if that’s necessary,” he affirmed.
Historically, previous deployments of the National Guard to Chicago were coordinated with local officials. While the president has the authority to deploy troops, U.S. law limits this power, though there are no restrictions on sending ICE agents or other federal law enforcement officers.
Trump’s threats to deploy troops to Chicago follow his recent actions to increase federal law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C., as part of efforts to combat crime. Hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops have been stationed in D.C. to address safety concerns.
As tensions continue to rise, the implications of Johnson’s executive order and the potential federal response remain to be seen.
Source: Original article