Chicago mayor signs order to protect residents' rights amid fears of National Guard deployment

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Saturday aimed at protecting the constitutional rights of Chicagoans amid fears that the Trump administration will deploy National Guard troops to the city.

The signing of the order, titled "Protecting Chicago," comes amid fears of the Trump administration deploying National Guard troops to combat crime in the city, and more immigration enforcement activity.

"We have not called for this," Johnson said. "Our people have not asked for this, but nevertheless, we find ourselves having to respond to this."

He added that while President Trump's administration is "erratic and impulsive" and emphasized how unpredictable such actions can be."

What we know:

The executive order, titled the "Protecting Chicago Initiative," aims to inform residents of their rights and how to "utilize legal action and legislation to prevent any attempts to systemically violate the rights of Chicagoans."

Johnson emphasized that the order aims to help residents distinguish between local police officers and federal agents who may come to the city. The order requires Chicago police officers to wear standard-issued uniforms that clearly identify them.

"To ensure that there is a clear distinction between our police department and federal agents, it gives a very clear directive," said Johnson, "It also gives very specific directives to our law department to make specific FOIA requests so that if there is any immigration enforcement that is coming to our city, we have to know about it."

The mayor said it could be a matter of days before federal agents are sent to the city, but it remains unclear exactly when such an operation will begin or how long it will last.

Johnson said his office is taking immediate action after receiving credible reports that Chicago could see the deployment of federal agents as soon as Friday.

Johnson stressed the impending timing of whatever federal action might come, saying, "Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of time. We have received credible reports that we have days, not weeks, before our city sees some sort of militarized activity by the federal government."

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson did not answer specific questions about the timing and nature of any federal deployment to Chicago, but said in a statement:

"If these Democrats focused on fixing crime in their own cities instead of doing publicity stunts to criticize the President, their communities would be much safer. Cracking down on crime should not be a partisan issue, but Democrats suffering from [Trump derangement syndrome] are trying to make it one. They should listen to fellow Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser who recently celebrated the Trump Administration’s success in driving down violent crime in Washington DC."

Dig deeper:

The executive order also "urges" all federal law enforcement and military personnel sent to the city to adhere to local policing rules, including not wearing any masks or coverings to conceal their identify, a tactic used by ICE and other immigration enforcement. As mayor, Johnson does not have authority over federal agents or military personnel, so the order he signed merely appears to be asking them to follow local laws.

The order also requires law enforcement agents to wear identifying information in a "clearly visible fashion" and use body worn cameras during their official activities.

The order also:

• "Demands that President Donald J. Trump and any agents under his authority stand down from any attempts to deploy the U.S. Armed Forces - including the National Guard - in Chicago," and threatens legal action.
• Says the city will request documents and information about the date, time and locations of federal enforcement actions; the names of any individuals arrested or detained; and the stated basis of alleged criminal conduct related to such arrests.
• Emphasizes city law limiting Chicago police participation in federal immigration enforcement under the "Welcoming City" ordinance.

Johnson and other state and city leaders have rebuked Trump for his threats to send troops to Chicago, arguing such a move is unnecessary and illegal.

"We do not want to see tanks in our streets," he said. "We do not want to see families ripped apart. We do not want grandmothers thrown into the back of unmarked vans. We don't want to see homeless Chicagoans harassed or disappeared by federal agents. We don't want to see Chicagoans arrested for sitting on their porch."

Still, it's unclear what impact Johnson's executive order would have if troops or immigration agents are sent to the city.

READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER HERE:

What they're saying:

"The mayor's executive order is trying to get support and help and rally the troops behind him, so to speak, in Chicago. It has almost no legal effect whatsoever," said Harold Krent, a professor at Chicago Kent College of Law. "So the claim that the federal officers should wear body cameras and not masks and identify themselves is wonderful, except he doesn't control the federal officers."

Krent said Johnson is making a strong stand with Chicago, but it will have no partial effect if Trump sends troops or immigration agents.

He said it’s hard to guess what Trump is going to do in the coming weeks.

"He seems to have changed his focus from just doing regular crime and law enforcement, the way he did in DC, to focusing more on immigration roundup. It's probably a smart move because the administration has a much sounder legal footing by sending in troops to help ICE officials," said Krent.

"It's not worth the paper it's printed on. In my opinion," said Nick Sposato, 38th Ward Alderman, when referring to the mayor's executive order. 

Sposato said there is a lot of fearmongering going on in the city.

He said if relationships were stronger, we’d be in a better place.

"We're fighting back with them and saying, Mr. President, let's sit down. Let's work this out. We want you to get rid of criminals," said Sposato.