Chicago Mayor Johnson Creates ICE-Free Zones on City Property to Limit Federal Raids

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order creating "ICE-free zones" that prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from using city-owned properties such as parking lots, schools, libraries, parks, and other spaces as staging areas or bases for immigration enforcement activities. The order, effective immediately, aims to protect residents' safety, dignity, and constitutional rights, and is part of a broader effort to resist what Johnson called the "out-of-control" and "rogue" actions of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement in Chicago. The executive order also encourages private property owners to opt in by posting signage to prevent ICE from entering without a warrant. Johnson condemned federal immigration raids and the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Chicago, describing these actions as a "war on Chicago" and an attempt to dismantle democracy. In response, the White House's Rapid Response 47 account harshly criticized the order, accusing Johnson of enabling violent criminal activity by undocumented immigrants. The city plans to continue monitoring federal enforcement and may take further measures if ICE escalates operations.