Chicago mayor signs order to deter Trump’s crackdown threat

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Aug 30 aimed at banning federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks or disguises as he tries to head off a threat from US President Donald Trump to expand his crime crackdown to the city.

Mr Trump has called the Democratic-run city a “mess” and threatened to send in the National Guard as he did in Washington to fight crime and clear out homeless encampments. Federal agents have already been conducting immigration raids in cities across the United States, prompting strong criticism from Democratic mayors and governors.

Mr Johnson said his new order was aimed at protecting the constitutional rights of Chicago residents, adding that the city would pursue all legal means to resist a unilateral federal deployment.

“We do not want military checkpoints or armoured vehicles on our streets and we do not want to see families ripped apart,” Mr Johnson said in a news release. “We will take any action necessary to protect the rights of all Chicagoans.”

Mr Trump on Aug 30 blasted Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a possible 2028 Democratic White House candidate, for saying the state does not need federal help to tackle crime. “He better straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming!” he wrote in a post on X.

Crime is down in Chicago. Murders dropped 32 per cent to 188 in the first half of 2025, the lowest for the period since 2014, according to police data. Violent crime fell 23 per cent in the period, and vehicle theft declined 28 per cent.

Separately, California lawmakers and Los Angeles County officials are considering new rules to ban law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from wearing masks.

In June, Mr Trump sent thousands of troops to the Los Angeles area to quell anti-deportation protests and assist in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. BLOOMBERG