Pritzker Urges Chicagoans to Stand Up Against Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

(CHICAGO) Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on Sunday urged residents and local officials to “stand up” to President Trump’s planned immigration crackdown in Chicago, warning that federal immigration enforcement operations could begin “as early as this week” and that any move to deploy the National Guard on city streets would face immediate legal action. The governor’s remarks came as the Department of Homeland Security weighs using Naval Station Great Lakes as a base for operations, a step that would signal a rapid escalation in federal activity across the region as of September 1, 2025.

Mayor Brandon Johnson moved to harden the city’s stance. On August 30, he signed the “Protecting Chicago Initiative” executive order. The order bars the Chicago Police Department from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement—no patrols, traffic stops, or checkpoints tied to civil status checks—and directs the city’s Department of Law to pursue every legal path to block what the mayor calls federal overreach. “We will not be intimidated,” Johnson told supporters. “We’re standing up to Donald Trump.”

State response and legal threat

Governor Pritzker said the threat to send troops into Chicago violates the Posse Comitatus Act, the federal law that limits use of U.S. military forces for domestic law enforcement except during an insurrection or a true emergency.

• “National Guard troops, any kind of troops on the streets of an American city, don’t belong unless there is an insurrection, unless there is truly an emergency; there is not,” he said.
• Pritzker added that the state would sue “the moment” troops deploy for policing.
• He also raised alarms that the White House is tying federal aid to compliance, saying the administration has threatened to cut crime-prevention grants that the state credits with helping reduce killings in the city since 2022.

The White House has framed the plan as part of a broader crime push. President Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Better straighten out fast, or we’re coming.” At the federal level, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed ongoing ICE operations in Chicago and said more resources are coming, while declining to describe tactics or timelines, citing security.

Federal officials argue stronger enforcement is needed to uphold federal law and protect public safety, though they have not explained why troops, rather than civilian agents, would be necessary for immigration tasks.

Local mobilization and community concerns

Local religious and advocacy groups are mobilizing in response.

• The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) and United Giving Hope have planned vigils and “know your rights” sessions.
• Groups are concerned that large operations—especially near a military base—would trigger panic, split families, and invite constitutional challenges.
• Community lawyers warn that any spike in detentions will strain legal aid hotlines and shelter systems, particularly for parents with school-age children who rely on city services.

Chicago’s long history as a “Welcoming City” includes limited cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement for years; the new executive order adds legal muscle to that stance.

Policy moves in city and state

Chicago’s executive order draws a clear line: city police will not assist with civil immigration enforcement.

• This includes no participation in actions based solely on immigration status, such as:
  • workplace raids without criminal warrants,
  • home checks without judicial orders,
  • vehicle stops linked to civil status.
• The order does not block cooperation on criminal matters; it targets civil enforcement, which is the bulk of ICE activity.

At the state level, Pritzker’s office is preparing to argue:

1. Using troops for day-to-day law enforcement absent insurrection is unlawful under the Posse Comitatus Act.
2. Such deployment violates constitutional limits on federal power over states.

State attorneys point to past court fights during the prior Trump term, when federal deployments to Democratic-led cities sparked injunctions and lawsuits. Legal scholars expect any troop order to draw an immediate request for a temporary restraining order and possibly a preliminary injunction within days.

While legal defenses are being prepared, officials are also urging practical safety steps for families. City officials advise people to stay tuned to official channels and avoid crowds near Naval Station Great Lakes, where federal staging could create confusion. Schools and clinics plan to share information about legal support, mental health resources, and emergency family plans in case a parent is detained.

What this means for immigrant families

Advocacy groups warn that a visible buildup of agents—or even rumors of troops—can cause fear that keeps families from schools, medical appointments, or court dates. For mixed-status households, the risks ripple outward:

• A U.S. citizen child missing class because a parent is afraid to drive
• A lawful permanent resident skipping a medical checkup to avoid traffic stops
• A DACA recipient delaying a job change to keep a stable address

Local attorneys offer practical guidance:

• Carry proof of identity and, if you have it, proof of lawful status. Keep copies in a safe place.
• If ICE comes to your door, you do not have to open it unless agents show a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Ask them to slide it under the door.
• You have the right to remain silent. Ask for a lawyer before answering questions.
• Do not lie or carry fake documents. That can harm any future case.
• Create a family plan: list emergency contacts, pick-up arrangements for children, and who has keys to your home.
• Avoid unnecessary travel near known operation sites, including areas around Naval Station Great Lakes, while operations are active.
• Seek legal help fast if someone is detained. NIJC and the ACLU of Illinois maintain hotlines and clinic hours.

For official background on enforcement and detention under federal law, residents can review U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations information at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, communities often see a wave of calls to legal clinics during the first week of any large operation, after which patterns become clearer and targeted rights education can reduce panic.

Important: A spike in detentions can overwhelm legal and shelter resources. Getting legal help quickly is critical to avoid missed court dates or in‑absentia removal orders.

Legal and political path ahead

The likely court fight will hinge on three core questions:

1. Can the administration justify troop use under any lawful exception tied to public safety in a city not facing insurrection?
2. Can federal agents pressure local police into joint operations despite city policy?
3. Do funding threats cross into coercion by making local compliance a condition for grants unrelated to immigration enforcement?

City Hall’s lawyers say they’re ready to challenge federal actions on constitutional grounds, including federalism and due process arguments. The state could seek a ruling that narrowly defines emergency so it does not cover routine immigration work. Past cases suggest courts will scrutinize federal moves that appear to sidestep local authority, especially in areas like policing that states traditionally control.

For neighborhoods across Chicago, the outcome will shape daily life in ways both visible and quiet. If federal operations begin this week, as officials expect, residents may see:

• more marked vehicles on highways,
• early morning activity near transit hubs,
• stepped-up checks in places where ICE historically focuses.

If troops accompany agents, civil rights groups will closely track any role soldiers play in stops or searches, raising the risk of emergency court filings the same day.

Resources, local response, and immediate steps

Pritzker’s office has flagged money at stake. He says the administration has tied federal crime-prevention funds to cooperation—a move he argues would punish local programs credited with cutting murders by about half since 2022. Cutting those funds, he says, would hurt youth outreach, violence interruption, and reentry services.

Supporters of the White House approach counter that immigration enforcement and public safety go hand in hand and that cities should assist federal law.

Meanwhile, local agencies and organizations are preparing practical responses:

• Schools: training staff on basic rights information and how to connect families to legal clinics.
• Libraries: hosting information sessions.
• Community health centers: offering calm, factual briefings to reduce fear-based delays in care.
• Faith leaders: coordinating vigils and support lines.
• Legal nonprofits: preparing for heavier caseloads and advising people not to skip court dates.

Federal officials insist operations will be consistent with federal law but decline to release details for security reasons. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has said resources will increase in Chicago but has not outlined scope.

That leaves residents bracing for uncertainty while elected leaders trade statements and lawyers prep filings that could land in court within hours of any troop deployment.

At street level, the advice remains steady and simple: keep documents in order, know your rights, and stay connected to trusted local organizations. For many Chicago families, those steps can be the difference between panic and a plan. If the immigration crackdown unfolds as threatened, those small steps—calm, careful, and informed—will matter most, even as the bigger legal fight plays out in the courts of the United States 🇺🇸.