Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order establishing “ICE-Free Zones” on city-owned property
According to NBC Chicago, the action prohibis U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal immigration agents from using spaces publicas spaces for enforcement activities.
The order, which the Mayor’s office stated was a response to federal agents using city properties for enforcement, aims to protect community trust, uphold Chicago’s “Welcoming City Ordinance,” and defend the constitutional rights of all residents, with the Department of Law tasked with taking legal action if federal agents violate the new policy. Johnson also encouraged private property owners to voluntarily opt-in to the “ICE-Free Zone” network by posting city-provided signage and distributing “Know Your Rights” materials to their employees and tenants.
“In recent weeks, federal agents used several City-owned properties—including parking lots near Harrison and Kedzie, and a vacant lot at 46th and Damen—as staging sites for immigration enforcement,” the mayor’s office said in a release about the order. “Such use of City property undermines community trust and runs counter to Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance, which ensures that all residents—regardless of immigration status—can live, work, and seek services without fear.”
“In recent weeks, federal agents used several City-owned properties—including parking lots near Harrison and Kedzie, and a vacant lot at 46th and Damen—as staging sites for immigration enforcement,” the mayor’s office said in a release about the order. “Such use of City property undermines community trust and runs counter to Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance, which ensures that all residents—regardless of immigration status—can live, work, and seek services without fear.”
“In recent weeks, federal agents used several City-owned properties—including parking lots near Harrison and Kedzie, and a vacant lot at 46th and Damen—as staging sites for immigration enforcement,” the mayor’s office said in a release about the order. “Such use of City property undermines community trust and runs counter to Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance, which ensures that all residents—regardless of immigration status—can live, work, and seek services without fear.”
“We have a rogue, reckless group of heavily armed, masked individuals roaming throughout our city that are not accountable to the people of Chicago. Their actions put all Chicagoans at risk,” Johnson said while announcing the executive order.