On January 31, the mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, signed off on the “ICE on Notice” executive order. This executive order is one of the first, directing CPD to fully investigate and document illegal ICE activity in the city of Chicago. In Johnson’s words, “Nobody is above the law. There is no such thing as ‘absolute immunity’ in America.”
The executive order states:
“As ordered by Mayor Johnson, if CPD personnel observe or receive reports of apparent violations of state or local law by federal agents, they shall:
- Document federal enforcement activities in accordance with CPD policy;
- Ensure that any body-camera footage captured during the incident—including footage of any use of force, detentions, injuries, or other enforcement activity—is preserved;
- Seek to identify the federal supervisory officer on scene, attempt to verify the supervisory officer’s name and badge number, and record the credential verification using body-cameras—including any refusal to comply;
- Complete a report on any violation of state or local law by federal agents consistent with CPD policy;
- Immediately summon emergency medical services and render aid to any injured person on the scene.”
This executive order is a direct rebuttal against the tactics of ICE after the catastrophes that struck Minnesota and the thousands whose rights were infringed; citizens and non-citizens alike. While Chicagoans resisted ICE in their own way, through Know Your Rights campaigns and whistles being blown on the streets, policy makers are now fighting back.
After the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti just last month in Minnesota, deep concerns have arisen across the United States regarding ICE’s actions. As a result, Johnson signed this order to protect Chicagoans from further wrongdoing, requiring the documentation of federal enforcement activity and the collection of all evidence of rights infringements. In the wake of any evidence of illegal misconduct, it will be referred to the Cook County State’s Attorney.
This is a big win in terms of fighting against ICE in one of the largest immigrant-populated cities in the United States. However, not all public officials are for it. Cook County State Attorney Eileen O’Neill called the order “wholly inappropriate,” due to the fact that any felony matters will be directed by the mayor’s office instead of law enforcement themselves. Their point is that any mayoral staff member who refers the case to the state’s attorney’s office causes serious litigation issues. However, Johnson stated they had no choice but to act in the wake of ICE’s combative tactics against people in the United States, and denied this claim.
This is a step in the right direction, as people are waiting to hear where ICE will land next. Organizations such as CAIR-Chicago, the Muslim Civic Coalition, and others joined Johnson in support of the executive order.
People feel as if they are being heard with the passage of this order, but time will tell whether it will benefit in the long run. For now, communities are still conjoined at the hip to protect each other’s lives and economies. Recently in Pilsen, Chicago, organizers banded together to call for an end to immigration enforcement, raising awareness of the communities’ rights. A leaked memo revealed that ICE agents were told they could forcibly enter people’s homes without a judicial warrant. Advocates are making it clear that this violates people’s rights, and they should still demand to see a judicial warrant if ICE comes knocking on their door. Rapid response groups are focusing on exposing ICE’s violence, and the executive order passed by Johnson intends to keep this evidence intact as well, aligning clearly with the goals of Chicagoans in the city.
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