Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently signed an executive order that has stirred up controversy and criticism from various quarters, including the head of the city’s largest police union. FOP Lodge #7 President John Catanzara Jr. did not mince words when he described the executive order as a “piece of toilet paper” and questioned the competence of city leadership.
The executive order, aimed at establishing protocols for potential prosecution of federal immigration agents, was met with skepticism by Catanzara. He highlighted a provision in the order that stated no Chicago Police Department (CPD) member would be required to arrest federal agents, a point he found to be the only redeeming quality in the directive.
Under the executive order, CPD officers are instructed to document any potentially illegal activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents. While the city’s cops will not be responsible for arresting federal agents, they will collect evidence and refer cases to the state’s attorney’s office for possible prosecution.
Catanzara also raised concerns about the mayor’s office’s understanding of basic immigration law, pointing out that entering the country illegally is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail. He emphasized the need for reporting potential wrongdoing to be a two-way street and suggested that CPD officers could file reports for crimes in which federal agents are the victims.
Criticism of the executive order extended beyond the police union, with Republican officials, including Chicago Republican Party Chairman Chuck Hernandez, questioning the mayor’s decision. Hernandez argued that federal immigration agents were simply enforcing longstanding federal law and that disputes over these policies should be addressed at the federal level.
The controversy surrounding the executive order escalated when Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke contradicted Mayor Johnson’s claim that her office was involved in crafting the order. O’Neill Burke clarified that her office had not received the executive order until it was released to the public and emphasized the importance of reviewing such critical issues thoroughly.
Critics, including former Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel, labeled the mayor’s move as a “political stunt” that diverted attention from pressing public safety concerns. Weitzel urged Mayor Johnson to prioritize the protection of citizens and focus on combating rising crime rates instead of investigating federal agents.
The executive order announcement has sparked a heated debate and raised questions about the city’s approach to immigration enforcement. As stakeholders on all sides continue to voice their opinions, the implications of this directive on law enforcement and public safety remain a topic of contention in Chicago.
