Trump is calling for the arrest of Chicago’s mayor, Brandon Johnson, as well as Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, after they refused to let federal agents violate the constitutional rights of their residents. Since August, the Trump administration has deployed ICE agents to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Memphis. There was also an attempt to send the National Guard, including troops from Oregon and other states, but a federal judge temporarily intercepted the deployment, according to Reuters.
Why does Trump want Chicago’s mayor and Illinois’ governor arrested?
There has been much criticism from Democratic representatives and senators, state and local government officials, as well as citizens, on how aggressive ICE agents have been while apprehending immigrants and wrongfully profiling Americans, according to The Grio.
Upset about Johnson and Pritzker’s resistance and commitment to protecting residents from ICE agents, Trump blasted them on his Truth Social platform: “Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” Trump wrote.
Chicago is recognized as a sanctuary city where undocumented immigrants are offered safety and support. On Oct. 6, a press release issued by Johnson’s office announced that he signed the “ICE Free Zone” executive order into law. He made it clear in a statement that the city won’t sit quietly while Chicagoans’ rights are trampled as federal officers try to overstep their authority.
“We will not tolerate ICE agents violating our residents’ constitutional rights nor will we allow the federal government to disregard our local authority. ICE agents are detaining elected officials, tear-gassing protestors, children, and Chicago police officers, and abusing Chicago residents,” Mayor Johnson said in the press release. “We will not stand for that in our city. With this Executive Order, Chicago stands firm in protecting the Constitutional rights of our residents and immigrant communities and upholding our democracy.”
How did Trump respond to Mayor Johnson’s ‘ICE Free Zone’ executive order?
Johnson’s executive order follows a wave of backlash after ICE agents reportedly stormed an apartment complex, detaining both undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens. Many of them were Black. The Grio reported that women and children were zip-tied during the chaotic raid, sparking outrage and renewed calls for federal accountability.
According to Reuters, an estimated 500 National Guard members were sent to the Chicago area on Wednesday under orders from Trump. While 300 were from Chicago, 200 came from Texas. The move drew backlash from both the city’s mayor and Illinois’ governor, who condemned it as an unnecessary show of force that could do harm by escalating tensions instead of calming them.