Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Issues “ICE On Notice” Order to Probe Federal Agent Misconduct
Updated (3 articles)
Mayor Johnson Enacts Executive Order on Jan 31, 2026 Brandon Johnson signed the “ICE On Notice” order directing the Chicago Police Department to investigate alleged ICE and Border Patrol misconduct, preserve all evidence, and forward felony findings to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office [1][2]. The directive mandates a 30‑day timeline for CPD guidance and establishes a reporting pipeline for future prosecutions. It positions Chicago as the first U.S. city to formalize state‑level accountability for federal immigration agents.
Order Reacts to Recent Fatal Shootings Involving ICE Johnson cited the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this month, as well as Chicago incidents where ICE officer shot Silverio Villegas‑Gonzalez in September 2025 and CBP agent shot Marimar Martinez in October 2025 [1]. These deaths intensified local demands for oversight of federal enforcement actions. The order seeks to document such incidents to determine whether state prosecution is warranted.
Reporting Framework Requires Body‑Camera Preservation and Officer Identification CPD supervisors must retain body‑camera footage, identify the federal supervisory officer present, summon emergency medical services, and compile misconduct reports for public aggregation [1][2]. The system also obliges agencies to share aggregated violation data with the community, creating transparency around ICE operations. Compliance will be monitored to ensure evidence is available for any subsequent legal action.
Legal and Political Reactions Amplify Nationwide Scrutiny A coalition of nine district attorneys announced support for prosecuting federal officers who violate state law, while New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposed legislation barring local police from assisting ICE [1]. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner praised the order as “bold, principled leadership,” whereas DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin dismissed misconduct claims as false [2]. Law‑enforcement leaders such as Fraternal Order of Police president John Catanzara criticized the measure, calling it political bluster.
ICE Operations Continue Nationwide Amid Partial Drawdowns Despite Chicago’s new oversight, ICE’s Operation Midway Blitz, launched Sep 8 2025, recorded over 4,200 arrests by Nov 19, and civil‑rights lawsuits allege warrantless arrests and excessive force [2][3]. Other sweeps, including Minnesota’s Metro Surge and Maine’s Operation Catch of the Day, persist while the Trump administration’s “border czar” Tom Homan signals a gradual drawdown of agents [3]. The Chicago order therefore occurs within a broader federal enforcement landscape that remains active but is beginning to contract.
Sources
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1.
CNN: Chicago Mayor Issues Executive Order to Probe ICE Misconduct: details Johnson’s Jan 31 order, CPD investigative duties, recent shootings, political backlash, and federal officials’ acknowledgment of needed reforms.
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2.
Newsweek: Chicago Mayor’s “ICE On Notice” Order Targets Federal Immigration Enforcement: highlights the reporting system, Midway Blitz arrest figures, civil‑rights lawsuits, DHS denial, and praise from Philadelphia’s district attorney.
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3.
Newsweek: ICE Operations Shift Nationwide Amid Drawdowns and Ongoing Sweeps: provides context on nationwide ICE sweeps, Midway Blitz outcomes, lawsuits, and drawdowns in Maine and New Orleans, framing Chicago’s order within a larger enforcement picture.
Timeline
June 6 – Aug 8 2025 – ICE and CBP conduct a summer sweep across the Los Angeles area, making 4,163 arrests and employing tear‑gas and other crowd‑control tactics as part of a broader California enforcement push[3].
July 2025 – New York City launches Operation Salvo, a targeted ICE effort against violent transnational gang members, recording 54 arrests by January 2026[3].
Sep 8 2025 – DHS‑ICE initiates the “Midway Blitz” campaign in Chicago, aiming at sanctuary cities; the operation expands to Indiana and neighboring states and later exceeds 4,200 arrests by Nov 19 2025[2].
Sep 2025 – An ICE officer fatally shoots migrant Silverio Villegas‑Gonzalez in Chicago, intensifying scrutiny of federal enforcement actions[1].
Oct 2025 – A CBP agent shoots migrant Marimar Martinez five times in Chicago, further fueling calls for accountability[1].
Dec 1 2025 – Minnesota’s “Metro Surge” deploys 3,000 federal agents statewide, prompting legal challenges after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis[3].
Dec 3 2025 – New Orleans rolls out “Catahoula Crunch,” resulting in roughly 370 arrests before agents are redeployed to Minnesota in early Jan 2026[3].
Nov 19 2025 – Chicago’s Midway Blitz reports over 4,200 arrests, while civil‑rights groups file lawsuits alleging warrantless arrests, excessive force, and violations of a standing consent decree governing ICE activity in the city[2].
Jan 20 2026 – Illinois releases 1,768 criminal illegal aliens, a figure cited by DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin to counter misconduct allegations[2].
Jan 21 – Jan 29 2026 – Maine’s “Operation Catch of the Day” arrests more than 200 individuals before Senator Susan Collins announces its conclusion; ICE Director Patricia Hyde praises the “early success”[3].
Jan 2026 (early) – Nine district attorneys form a coalition to assist state prosecutions of federal officers who violate state law, signaling growing legal pressure on ICE[1].
Jan 2026 (early) – New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposes legislation to bar local police from cooperating with ICE, reflecting a broader political push against federal immigration enforcement[1].
Jan 31 2026 – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signs the “ICE On Notice” executive order, directing the Chicago Police Department to investigate alleged ICE misconduct, preserve body‑camera footage, identify supervising federal officers, and refer felony evidence to the Cook County State’s Attorney within 30 days[1].
Jan 31 2026 – Johnson cites the recent fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier that month, as well as the Sep 2025 and Oct 2025 Chicago incidents, to justify the order’s urgency[1].
Jan 31 2026 – Police union president John Catanzara dismisses the order as “a piece of toilet paper,” while DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin labels the misconduct claims “FALSE,” underscoring law‑enforcement pushback[1].
Jan 31 2026 – Trump‑era “border czar” Tom Homan states the Minneapolis ICE operation “needs to be fixed” and notes his team is developing a drawdown plan for agents involved in misconduct[1].
Jan 31 2026 – Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner praises the Chicago order as “bold, principled leadership” that builds infrastructure to hold ICE and CBP agents accountable[2].
Jan 31 2026 – DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reiterates that misconduct allegations are false and points to the release of 1,768 criminal illegal aliens since Jan 20 2026 as evidence of ICE’s compliance with standards[2].
2026 (future) – Tom Homan hints at a future withdrawal of ICE agents from high‑profile operations such as Minnesota’s Metro Surge, indicating a potential shift in federal enforcement strategy[3].
External resources (2 links)
- https://x.com/ChicagosMayor/status/2017636725523140950?s=20 (cited 1 times)