Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson launches taxpayer-funded campaign to help illegal immigrants evade immigration enforcement, directly defying President Trump’s efforts to restore law and order to the sanctuary city.
Key Takeaways
- Chicago is relaunching a “Know Your Rights” campaign on 400+ CTA screens to help illegal immigrants evade ICE operations
- Mayor Johnson has vowed to resist President Trump’s immigration enforcement “whether it’s in the courts, whether it’s in the streets or with policy”
- The city is refusing to share CityKey program applicant information with federal authorities, deliberately obstructing immigration enforcement
- Chicago has been identified as one of five cities targeted for tactical immigration raids due to its sanctuary policies
- Despite the city being overwhelmed with over 51,000 migrants since August 2022, Johnson prioritizes protecting illegal immigrants over cooperating with federal law
Chicago’s Mayor Defies Federal Immigration Enforcement
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has launched a direct challenge to President Trump’s immigration enforcement plans, vowing to resist federal efforts to address the city’s massive illegal immigration problem. Johnson announced the city is relaunching a taxpayer-funded “Know Your Rights” campaign explicitly designed to help illegal immigrants avoid deportation. The campaign will display information on over 400 Chicago Transit Authority screens, directing people to resources on preparing for and evading ICE operations, essentially using public funds to obstruct federal law enforcement.
Johnson made his defiance clear during a press conference at City Hall, where he pledged total resistance to federal immigration enforcement. “Whatever is necessary. … We should all be committed to doing just that,” Johnson said in response to a question about how far he would go to oppose Trump’s policies. “Whether it’s in the courts, whether it’s in the streets or with policy, we’re going to continue to defend and stand up for working people.”
The bridges came down, but the lies stayed up …
Chicago Collapses in Real Time: Teens Shot on Sidewalks, Cars Stolen in Front of Cops, Downtown Paralyzed for a Protest That Already Happenedhttps://t.co/FA5Tcn6fs7 | Street Reports | 12 June 2025 by @drkugler
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Deliberate Obstruction of Federal Law
Chicago’s resistance goes beyond rhetoric. The city’s Law Department has refused to release records of CityKey program applicants, a government ID program widely used by illegal immigrants. Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry suggested revising FOIA laws to further restrict the release of information that could assist immigration enforcement. These actions represent a coordinated effort by city officials to shield illegal immigrants from federal authorities, regardless of the potential public safety implications.
“We believe it is a violation of the Constitution to deploy troops or National Guard absent authority under the Constitution,” said Mary Richardson-Lowry, demonstrating how Chicago officials are prepared to challenge any federal enforcement actions.
The city’s “Welcoming City Ordinance” severely restricts police from sharing information with ICE, creating a sanctuary for those who have entered the country illegally. Some alderpersons are even pushing for more extreme measures. Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez suggested deploying Chicago police to protect public spaces from ICE raids, effectively proposing that local law enforcement obstruct federal officers in the performance of their duties.
A City Overwhelmed by Illegal Immigration
The irony of Johnson’s staunch opposition to immigration enforcement is that Chicago has been overwhelmed by the migrant crisis. The city has received over 51,000 migrants since August 2022, many relocated from Texas. This influx has strained city resources and taxpayer dollars, yet Johnson remains committed to protecting illegal immigrants rather than cooperating with federal authorities to address the root problem.
“For instance, Chicago is very well educated, President Trump’s border czar. “They call it ‘know your rights.’ I call it how to escape arrest … how to hide from ICE,” said Tom Homan.
The Biden-Harris administration’s open border policies created this crisis, and now local Democrats like Johnson are doubling down on sanctuary policies that only make the situation worse. While Chicago residents struggle with rising crime, strained public services, and increased tax burdens, their mayor is using city resources to actively undermine federal immigration enforcement instead of working with the Trump administration to restore order and the rule of law.
