The Chicago space is bracing for extra immigration enforcement over the weekend.
In the meantime, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson pushed again in opposition to President Donald Trump Saturday after the president elevated his threats to ship in federal troops to town with a social media meme.
In a publish on his social media platform, Trump reshared a picture that locations him in entrance of Chicago that insinuated he was going to take motion in opposition to town, referencing his latest rebranding of the Pentagon the “Division of Battle.”
Pritzker slammed Trump and mentioned that the president threatened to go to warfare with town by posting the memes.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks throughout a press convention, Sept. 2, 2025, in Chicago.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP by way of Getty Photos
“This isn’t regular. Donald Trump is not a strongman, he is a scared man. Illinois gained’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator,” Pritzker wrote in an X publish.
Johnson echoed the governor’s sentiment, saying the president’s “threats are beneath the distinction of our nation, however the actuality is that he desires to occupy our metropolis and break our Structure.”
“We should defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by defending one another and defending Chicago from Donald Trump,” the mayor wrote in an X publish.
A White Home spokeswoman criticized the Illinois leaders in a press release, citing Chicago’s murders in the course of the Labor Day weekend.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, in entrance of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, speaks throughout a press convention on stories of federal deployments in Chicago, September 2, 2025.
Jim Vondruska/Reuters
“Native Democrat leaders are extra upset a few publish from the President — that tells you all the things you want to know in regards to the Democrats’ twisted priorities,” Abigail Jackson, White Home spokeswoman, mentioned in a press release to ABC Information.
The backwards and forwards between Trump and Chicago Democrats has elevated during the last week because the president has vowed to step up federal enforcement of crimes and immigration enforcement, together with by deploying the Nationwide Guard .
Pritzker warned that there was a surge in ICE brokers within the metropolis and that there may very well be as many as 300 ICE brokers this weekend, based on native officers.
In response to the potential of added ICE enforcement, metropolis officers from neighboring communities say they’re bracing for the rise of brokers in communities, based on Gregory Jackson, who serves because the Chief of Workers in North Chicago, Illinois. Brokers and officers are anticipated to function out of the Nice Lakes Naval Station for about 30 days, he mentioned.
NORTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 6: Individuals opposing ICE protest exterior of the Naval Station Nice Lakes on September 6, 2025 in North Chicago, Illinois. The federal authorities is staging regulation enforcement on the naval station.
Andy Manis/Getty Photos
Fencing was seen going across the federal courthouse in Chicago, in anticipation of the enforcement actions occurring, based on metropolis officers.
El Grito Chicago, town’s competition for Mexican Independence Day, postponed the occasion scheduled for subsequent weekend citing ICE exercise.
“It was a painful choice, however holding El Grito Chicago at the moment places the protection of our group at stake – and that is a danger we’re unwilling to take,” the occasion posted on its web site.
On Saturday, a crowd of protesters gathered exterior Naval Station Nice Lakes to protest the anticipated immigration crackdown.
Trump has repeatedly singled out Chicago as he has mulled sending the Guard to different main American cities following his federal takeover of Washington. Trump has mentioned he most popular that cities ask for his administration’s help.
NORTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 6: Individuals opposing ICE protest exterior of the Naval Station Nice Lakes on September 6, 2025 in North Chicago, Illinois. The federal authorities is staging regulation enforcement on the naval station.
Andy Manis/Getty Photos
Pritzker has pushed again on the Trump administration’s involvement in Chicago, saying “I can’t name the president, asking him to ship troops to Chicago. I’ve made that clear already,” Pritzker mentioned.
A Division of Homeland Safety spokesperson informed ABC Information that the enforcement is focusing on the “worst of the worst” criminals.
“It’s no shock that these criminals flock to sanctuary cities the place politicians defend them and permit them to roam free on American streets placing American lives in danger,” the spokespersons mentioned. “DHS will go to wherever these felony unlawful aliens are — together with Chicago, Boston and different cities. Underneath President Trump and Secretary Noem, nowhere is a protected haven for felony unlawful aliens. For those who come to our nation illegally and break our legal guidelines, we’ll hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you’ll by no means return.”
