Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson rejects Trump's citywide immigration enforcement strategy
In a move that could take place within days, Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago has taken a stance against the Trump administration's plan to surge federal officers into the city. This potential deployment, if it occurs, would mark the nation's third-largest city as the latest target in a larger effort to expand the federal law enforcement presence in major Democratic-run cities.
Two US officials, speaking anonymously, shared information about the surge, which follows a similar deployment in Los Angeles this summer. However, the details of the federal plan for Chicago have not been made public.
In response to this potential surge, Mayor Johnson has issued an executive order directing all city departments to guard the constitutional rights of Chicago residents. The order applies to all city departments and instructs them not to take orders from the federal government.
The Chicago Police Department will be barred from helping federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement or related patrols, traffic stops, and checkpoints during the surge. Moreover, the department is barred from wearing face coverings to hide their identities, a practice that has been associated with militarised operations.
Mayor Johnson has been vocal in his opposition to the announced federal reinforcement. He has emphasised the importance of maintaining the city's values and the rights of its residents, stating, "We will not allow our city to be turned into a police state."
The surge, if it occurs, could last about 30 days and could involve militarised immigration or National Guard deployment, as per earlier reports. However, the mayor's executive order also directs city departments to provide assistance to federal authorities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency, ensuring that the city's resources can still be utilised for the greater good.
This standoff between the mayor and the Trump administration comes at a critical time, with the potential surge set to start on September 5. It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold, but one thing is clear: the people of Chicago and their mayor are determined to protect their city's values and the rights of its residents.
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