Democrats’ Opposition to ICE Actions in Chicago Sparks Debate
During a segment on “Ingraham’s Angle,” Fox News analyst Sol Wisenberg commented on the recent opposition from Democrats regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Chicago, labeling their stance as “very embarrassing.” He argued that they can’t interfere with federal government actions.
In response to ICE’s efforts against illegal immigrants, Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson issued an executive order that designates certain areas as “iceless zones.” Laura Ingraham mentioned that the Trump administration may challenge this order in federal court, prompting her to ask Wisenberg about its potential outcomes.
“While local governments aren’t required to endorse federal actions, they can’t obstruct federal law enforcement,” Wisenberg explained.
He expressed that the situation is indeed embarrassing, referencing a legal principle from the Civil War era. “This is Chicago and Illinois,” he emphasized.
In contrast, Johnson argued that the city “won’t tolerate ICE agents violating residents’ constitutional rights” and insisted that local governance must not be overridden by federal authority.
The executive order aims to prevent federal immigration officials from accessing city-owned property. City officials are also set to identify areas used for federal enforcement, putting up signs indicating that those spaces aren’t to be employed for immigration matters.
This move follows ICE raids in the South Shore neighborhood, where federal agents were recently filmed making arrests.
Alongside Johnson, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has publicly opposed the Trump administration’s use of ICE, urging the federal government in a September post to “stop using troops and ICE to invade our American cities.”
Chicago is part of a larger group of Democratic cities, including New York City and Los Angeles, that have historically served as sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants.
In 2023, Johnson and several Democratic mayors sent a letter to then-President Biden asking for federal assistance in managing the surge of illegal immigrants, which has reportedly exceeded 8 million under the current administration. They requested additional resources to help urban budgets deal with this influx.
