Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago has disclosed on Saturday that police will not work with National Guard troops or federal agents if United States President Donald Trump sends them to the city.
Standing with other city leaders, Johnson signed an executive order to prepare Chicago for any federal enforcement operation, similar to those Trump has carried out in Los Angeles and Washington, while also urging the president to reconsider.
"This is about making sure that we are prepared," Johnson said as he signed the order, adding that it provides "real, clear guidance" to city workers and "all the Chicagoans of how we can stand up against this tyranny."
The order states that Chicago police will continue enforcing state and local laws but will not join federal officers or the National Guard in patrols, arrests, or other actions. It also directs city police to wear their uniforms, follow body camera rules, and avoid masks to make sure they are clearly identified apart from federal officers.
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According to the order, "The deployment of federal military forces in Chicago without the consent of local authorities undermines democratic norms, violates the City's sovereignty, threatens civil liberties, and risks escalating violence rather than securing the peace."
Trump has threatened to send federal forces to Chicago as part of a broader crackdown on crime in Democrat-led cities, even as local officials point to drops in homicides, gun violence, and burglaries. Johnson said officials have received credible reports that federal agents or troops could arrive within days.
The White House dismissed Johnson's move, accusing Democrats of politicizing crime. "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," said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson.
Johnson said the city will consider all available options, including lawsuits, to challenge any deployment. "We will use the courts if that's necessary," he said.
Trump has maintained that he wants cities to request federal agents but has continued to threaten deployments without formal invitations. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has argued that the president cannot legally send troops into the state without his approval, unlike in Washington, D.C., where the federal government controls the police.
Past deployments of the National Guard to Chicago have been coordinated with local leaders. While U.S. law limits a president's ability to send in troops without consent, there are no restrictions on deploying federal law enforcement officers, such as ICE agents.