Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson (right) signed an executive order on Monday barring federal officials from using city property for immigration enforcement operations. (Erin Hooley/AP and Kamil Krazaczynski/Getty Images)
Johnson touted the order as establishing "ICE-free zones." Speaking at a press conference for the signing on Monday, he said the order also enables "unwilling private businesses" to refuse ICE agents’ use of their property to stage for operations. He said the order is "aimed at reining in this out-of-control administration."
"If the federal government violates this executive order, we will take them to court," Johnson said, urging Trump to leave Chicago "the freak alone."
In a statement posted on X, Johnson accused ICE agents of "detaining elected officials, tear-gassing protestors, children, and Chicago police officers, and abusing Chicago residents."
"With this Executive Order, Chicago stands firm in protecting the Constitutional rights of our residents and immigrant communities and upholding our democracy," Johnson wrote.
CHICAGO MAYOR VOWS CITY POLICE 'WILL NOT EVER COOPERATE WITH ICE'
Federal agents, including members of the Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol and the police, attempt to keep protesters back outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility Oct. 5, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
The agent explained that preparing for missions in public spaces presents an operational risk because it allows anti-ICE activists to track and publicize their movements.
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"They can see us getting together and they put it on Facebook immediately because there's different Facebook pages that we know they put us on," said the agent.
The agent also expressed concern over sanctuary policies keeping police departments from being able to assist if protesters get violent.
"Being in a sanctuary city, in the event this gets violent, or they get handsy or somebody gets hurt, either a government person or a protester. What are the local police going to do? Are they going to let us deal with it? I don't know," said the agent.
Fox News Digital's Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/federal-agent-says-chicagos-ice-free-zones-endanger-operations-embolden-protesters