Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has directed local police to investigate and record any alleged illegal activity by federal immigration agents (ICE) within the city. The move, which may heighten tensions with federal authorities, establishes a clear procedure for local law enforcement to report and refer potential violations to city prosecutors. The executive order, called ICE on Notice, is designed to ensure that ICE and CBP agents are held accountable if they break the law while operating in Chicago. Johnson said, “Nobody is above the law. With this order, we are putting ICE on notice. Chicago is leading the way as the first city to create infrastructure for holding federal agents accountable for crimes against our communities.” This directive comes amid nationwide debates over federal immigration enforcement. A federal judge recently denied Minnesota’s request to block an ICE crackdown, upholding federal authority and rejecting claims that it violated the Tenth Amendment. Chicago’s approach differs by asserting local power to investigate federal actions. The city’s plan allows police to preserve body-camera footage, identify supervising federal officers at incidents, and report potential violations of state or local law by ICE agents. City officials said the order responds to immigration operations that have, in their view, violated constitutional rights, destabilized communities, and led to dangerous confrontations. The mayor’s office emphasized that federal agents often operate without local oversight, leaving communities at risk. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office supported the measure, saying it “remains committed to protecting public safety, ensuring accountability, and upholding the rule of law alongside our law enforcement partners.” Chicago has already limited federal operations on city property. In October, Johnson issued an executive order restricting ICE activity in city-owned parking lots, vacant lots, and garages, effectively designating these as “ICE-free” zones. Concerns are growing that ICE activity in Chicago could increase as operations decrease in other cities, such as Minneapolis, where the Trump administration has signaled a drawdown. Johnson has called for a national civil rights response to federal immigration actions, urging bold action to protect communities. “This moment calls for boldness, not pragmatism to a tyrant,” Johnson said. “We got into this mess because we were too timid. We nibbled around the edges instead of standing up for the interests of working people.” The mayor’s office is exploring ways to not only investigate federal overreach but also create a legal process to prosecute individuals who violate laws in Chicago. On the federal side, former President Donald Trump warned that he would not send federal assistance to Democratic-led cities experiencing protests unless formally requested. Trump said, “We will, however, guard, and very powerfully so, any and all Federal Buildings that are being attacked by these highly paid lunatics, agitators, and insurrectionists.” Chicago’s move represents a rare instance of a major city attempting to hold federal immigration agents accountable for their actions. While federal law typically supersedes local authority, the city’s order establishes procedures for documenting violations and preserving evidence that could lead to local prosecution. The initiative is expected to increase scrutiny of ICE operations in Chicago and may influence how other cities respond to federal immigration enforcement. By creating this accountability framework, the city seeks to protect residents’ rights and ensure that federal agents operate within the law.