Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order directing the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to document and investigate any alleged illegal activity by federal immigration agents — including those from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — and to refer evidence of potential violations to prosecutors if warranted, city officials said.
Under the order, known as “ICE On Notice,” CPD officers who observe or receive complaints about federal immigration enforcement activities are instructed to:
- Preserve body-camera footage of incidents, including any use of force or detentions.
- Identify the federal supervisory officer on the scene, including attempting to verify names and badge numbers.
- Complete a report on any apparent violation of state or local law.
- Provide any evidence of what could be felony violations to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution.
Mayor Johnson said the order is intended to make clear that “nobody is above the law” and to ensure federal agents are held accountable if they are alleged to have violated local standards or laws. He described the directive as putting ICE “on notice” in Chicago.
The executive order comes amid heightened tensions over federal immigration enforcement in major U.S. cities and follows other local and state efforts to push back against what officials describe as aggressive immigration operations. Some Democratic leaders elsewhere, including in Minnesota and New York, have also pursued measures aimed at limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities or restricting their local involvement.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security had not immediately commented on the Chicago mayor’s action.