Chicago officials slam Brandon Johnson’s new ICE guidelines: ‘Who is the mayor trying to protect?’

Chicago officials blasted Mayor Brandon Johnson for issuing new guidance for dealing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Johnson on Friday released guidance on how to handle ICE visits to city properties while reaffirming his administration’s “commitment to welcoming city ordinances.”

In anticipation of the federal changes, the mayor’s office pledged that the city will continue to comply with the Illinois Trust Act of 2017, which prohibits local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration enforcement.

Johnson’s guidance advises that if ICE enters city property, “contact your agency or department’s designated attorney or general counsel for further guidance. Contact the highest-ranking official on scene or a designated supervisor and take no action until that person arrives.” .

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The guidance says to ask for a copy of the search warrant and not to give ICE access to “any private or ‘sensitive’ location,” but not to interfere with any search even if denied. There are further suggestions including taking notes and keeping written records of the same period.

“The mayor and corporation counsel are communicating with department heads on guidelines to ensure Chicago remains a welcoming city for all residents,” the mayor’s office said.

But Alderman Ray Lopez, the 15th Ward alderman, slammed Johnson’s efforts, Fox 32 Chicago reported.

“In fact, it amazes me that the mayor is making such an extraordinary effort to try to stop what Ald. Tabares and I want to do, which is to purge the few people who choose to commit crime in the city of Chicago,” Lopez said.

He went on to say,

Lopez’s remarks came after he and Ward 23 Alderman Silvana Tabares introduced an amendment to the Welcoming City Ordinance. According to FOX 32, their legislation would allow local agencies to work with ICE to target undocumented individuals “arrested or convicted of certain crimes.”

“The narrative from the mayor and his allies is that we are trying to evict everyone, but that’s not the case,” Lopez said.

He noted that arrests must be for “one of four categories of crime: gang-related activity, drug-related activity, prostitution and human trafficking, or sex crimes involving minors.”

The bill is expected to be voted on at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

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Since the beginning of the year, many Chicago residents have opposed placing large numbers of immigrants in their neighborhoods. (Screenshot/Fox 32 Chicago)

Lopez further explained that the Trump administration will focus on undocumented individuals and those with criminal backgrounds who are “dangerous” with Temporary Protected Status.

“We see Congress even moving in this direction in a bipartisan way. Why don’t we try to join them? It does beg the question, who is the mayor trying to protect and why is he so desperate to protect it?” Criminals in the city of Chicago,” he said.

Trump’s pick for border czarTom Homan promises tough law enforcement in Chicago as he criticizes Illinois political leaders.

Recently arrived immigrants sit on cots and on the floor at a city-operated temporary shelter at O’Hare International Airport on Aug. 31, 2023. ((Armando Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Getty Images Tribune News Service))

Homan detailed his plan in a speech at a Republican holiday party last month, vowing to verify the identities of asylum seekers and arrest anyone who offers asylum to illegal immigrants.

Additionally, Homan warned that Johnson would be sued if he obstructed ICE’s mass deportations.

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Chicago officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.