Chicago’s self-described socialist mayor just watched his anti-ICE executive order collapse within 48 hours as the city’s largest police union, the State’s Attorney, and law enforcement experts dismantled what critics are calling a reckless political stunt that undermines federal law and officer safety.
Mayor’s Anti-ICE Order Crumbles Immediately
Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on January 31, 2026, titled “ICE On Notice,” directing Chicago Police Department officers to document alleged illegal activities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents during operations. The order instructs CPD to refer evidence to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for potential prosecution of federal agents. Johnson positioned Chicago as the “first city” to formalize prosecution groundwork against federal immigration enforcement, framing the move as protection against “militarized” federal operations threatening residents. The order does not require CPD officers to arrest federal agents, a distinction Catanzara acknowledged as the only competent aspect.
Police Union Delivers Scathing Rebuke
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7 President John Catanzara Jr., representing Chicago’s largest police union with over 12,000 officers, called the executive order “a piece of toilet paper” in statements to The Center Square. Catanzara criticized Johnson’s understanding of federal immigration law, emphasizing that illegal entry into the United States constitutes a misdemeanor or felony under federal statute. He suggested a “two-way street” approach where CPD officers could similarly report city officials for violations. The union leader characterized the order as demonstrating “incompetence” and political grandstanding rather than legitimate law enforcement policy. Former Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel echoed this assessment, labeling the move a “political stunt” distracting from Chicago’s rising crime rates.
State’s Attorney Contradicts Collaboration Claims
Within hours of Johnson’s press conference, Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke publicly refuted the mayor’s claims of collaboration. Burke stated via Twitter and official statement that her office had not received, reviewed, or provided legal approval for the executive order prior to its signing. She emphasized that any evidence referred to her office would be reviewed independently according to established prosecutorial standards and the rule of law. This contradiction undermined Johnson’s credibility and revealed the order’s rushed implementation without coordination with the official responsible for any potential prosecutions. The immediate pushback from the county’s chief prosecutor exposed the hollow nature of the mayor’s threat to hold federal agents accountable.
Federal Law Supremacy and Sanctuary City Tensions
Chicago’s sanctuary city status originates from the 2017 Illinois Trust Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement without warrants. This policy framework has generated escalating tensions with federal agencies, particularly following reports of a 1000% increase in violence against ICE agents since early 2025 according to Department of Homeland Security data. In October 2025, CPD officers were reportedly barred from assisting ICE agents surrounded by protesters, prompting condemnation from the National Fraternal Order of Police and Illinois State FOP. Johnson cited late 2025’s Operation Midway Blitz—federal raids involving shootings, a fatal incident, and mass detentions—as justification for his order, anticipating an ICE “spring surge” in 2026.
Constitutional and Law Enforcement Implications
The executive order represents municipal overreach attempting to criminalize federal agents executing lawful immigration enforcement under constitutional authority. Former CPD detective Chuck Hernandez noted that such disputes belong in Congress, not local government offices attempting to obstruct federal law. The order strains already fragile relationships between city and federal law enforcement while burdening CPD with documentation requirements that divert resources from addressing Chicago’s crime crisis. Legal experts anticipate challenges if prosecutions are attempted, as federal supremacy doctrine establishes immigration enforcement as an exclusively federal function. This sanctuary city defiance exemplifies the broader pattern of progressive urban officials obstructing immigration law enforcement that Americans voted against when electing President Trump, who campaigned on restoring law and order including deportation of criminal illegal aliens.
As communities report ongoing mental health distress from immigration enforcement uncertainty, Johnson’s order deepens divisions rather than addressing legitimate concerns through lawful channels. The Illinois Accountability Commission heard testimony on February 2, 2026, regarding ICE and Border Patrol conduct, but the commission represents proper oversight mechanisms rather than mayoral threats to prosecute agents. The rapid collapse of Johnson’s order demonstrates what happens when political theater meets constitutional reality—law enforcement professionals, prosecutors, and legal experts recognize it for what Catanzara aptly described: worthless paper unmoored from both legal authority and common sense.
Sources:
Mayor Johnson Signs Executive Order Designed to Lay Groundwork to Prosecute Federal Agents
Cop Union Chief Says Mayor’s Anti-ICE Order is ‘Toilet Paper’
Chicago Johnson Executive Order
Illinois Accountability Commission Hears Expert Testimony on ICE CBP Misconduct