Chicago Orders Police to Document Potentially Illegal Federal Immigration Tactics

Source: NYT

Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago ordered city police on Saturday to begin formally documenting instances of aggressive and potentially illegal federal immigration enforcement actions, looking to build cases for prosecution against the most egregious actions.

Mr. Johnson’s order now codifies the role of local police in identifying agents and documenting their actions, adding to a nationwide effort by neighbors and community groups to use cellphone footage and informal databases to capture how immigration agents have used force to detain people across the country.

The order, signed Saturday, instructs the Chicago Police Department to ensure that body cameras worn by officers record any use of force, injuries or other actions, as well as the name and badge number of the supervisory federal officer present at an immigration operation. Officers that are called to a scene involving federal immigration agents are also now required to report any apparent violations of state or local law — and refer cases to the state’s attorney’s office — and create a public record of how many times police have reported or responded to allegations of illegal force. It also requires Chicago police to provide immediate medical care if needed to anyone present.

Mr. Johnson said the order was “a step toward justice,” as he invoked the series of fatal shootings involving immigration agents in recent months, including the September death of one man outside of Chicago and the two shootings in Minnesota in January.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/us/chicago-police-federal-immigration.html