Overview

• Mayor Brandon Johnson’s executive order creates the Protecting Chicago Initiative and instructs that CPD will not join military patrols or assist with civil immigration enforcement.
• The order directs police to display identification, avoid masks, and clearly distinguish themselves from any federal operations, while the city launches rights education and family-preparedness efforts.
• Johnson told reporters the city has credible indications federal action could come within days and authorized the law department to pursue every legal mechanism, including lawsuits.
• Federal planning includes a possible large ICE/DHS operation using Naval Station Great Lakes with more than 200 officers for roughly 30 days starting as early as next week, though officials say details remain in planning.
• The White House dismissed the move as political, as Illinois leaders including Gov. J.B. Pritzker and AG Kwame Raoul argue the president lacks authority to send the Guard without consent and point to sharp declines in Chicago homicides, shootings, and carjackings.