Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson puts ICE on notice with order seeking agent prosecutions

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Saturday directing city police to document and report alleged illegal conduct by federal immigration agents operating in the city.

The order, titled “ICE On Notice,” instructs members of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to record, preserve, and refer evidence of alleged felony violations by federal immigration agents to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Johnson said the move is intended to ensure accountability when federal enforcement actions cross legal boundaries.

“Nobody is above the law. There is no such thing as ‘absolute immunity’ in America,” Johnson said in a statement released Saturday. “The lawlessness of Trump’s militarized immigration agents puts the lives and well-being of every Chicagoan in immediate danger.”

Executive order directs CPD to document alleged ICE misconduct

Under the executive order, CPD officers who witness or receive reports of apparent illegal activity by federal immigration agents are required to document the incident in detail.

The order instructs officers to preserve all available body camera footage, complete incident reports consistent with department policy, and attempt to identify and verify the name and badge number of the federal supervisory officer present at the scene. Officers are also directed to summon emergency medical services and render aid to anyone injured during encounters involving federal agents.

Johnson said the policy establishes clear and uniform procedures, ensuring incidents involving federal agents are not ignored or handled informally.

“Chicago will not sit idly by while Trump floods federal agents into our communities and terrorizes our residents,” Johnson said, adding that the city would pursue accountability “just like we would with anyone else who breaks the law.”

The mayor claimed the order makes Chicago the first city in the country to explicitly pursue local legal accountability for alleged criminal misconduct by federal immigration agents through city law enforcement channels.

Mayor cites past shootings and lack of federal oversight

Johnson accused federal immigration agents of violating constitutionally protected rights, destabilizing neighborhoods, and provoking dangerous confrontations while remaining insulated from meaningful oversight.

He pointed to several high-profile incidents in and around Chicago as justification for the order. One involved Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, who was shot and killed by an ICE agent in September 2025 in suburban Franklin Park. Authorities said Gonzalez resisted arrest, attempted to flee during a traffic stop, and dragged an ICE officer with his vehicle.

Another case involved Marimar Martinez, who was shot multiple times by a federal Border Patrol agent after authorities said agents returned fire following an alleged vehicle collision.

Johnson also referenced the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during separate immigration enforcement operations, incidents that intensified national scrutiny of federal immigration tactics.

“These are not isolated events,” Johnson said, accusing federal agencies of operating without sufficient civilian or local oversight while conducting enforcement actions in densely populated communities.

Order comes as immigration surge looms in Chicago

The executive order comes amid reports that the federal government is planning another large-scale immigration enforcement surge in Chicago and surrounding areas later this spring.

Johnson said the anticipated deployment heightened the urgency for safeguards and accountability measures. While the order does not block federal agents from operating in Chicago, it signals a shift in how the city plans to respond when enforcement actions allegedly violate the law.

The move is expected to draw pushback from federal officials and Republican leaders who oppose sanctuary-style policies. Johnson, however, said the order is grounded in legal authority rather than politics.

“This is about protecting people who live here,” he said. “Federal agents are not exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else.”