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 towards 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 towards town, referencing his current rebranding of the Pentagon the “Division of Struggle.”
Pritzker slammed Trump and mentioned that the president threatened to go to conflict with town by posting the memes.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks throughout a press convention, Sept. 2, 2025, in Chicago.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP through 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 glory 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 through the Labor Day weekend.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, in entrance of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, speaks throughout a press convention on experiences of federal deployments in Chicago, September 2, 2025.
Jim Vondruska/Reuters
“Native Democrat leaders are extra upset a couple of publish from the President — that tells you every little thing you must know concerning the Democrats’ twisted priorities,” Abigail Jackson, White Home spokeswoman, mentioned in a press release to ABC Information.
The forwards and backwards between Trump and Chicago Democrats has elevated over the past 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 might be as many as 300 ICE brokers this weekend, in keeping with 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, in keeping with Gregory Jackson, who serves because the Chief of Employees 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, in keeping with metropolis officers.
El Grito Chicago, town’s pageant for Mexican Independence Day, postponed the occasion scheduled for subsequent weekend citing ICE exercise.
“It was a painful determination, however holding El Grito Chicago right now places the security of our group at stake – and that is a threat we’re unwilling to take,” the occasion posted on its website.
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 assistance.
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 instructed ABC Information that the enforcement is concentrating 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. Beneath President Trump and Secretary Noem, nowhere is a secure haven for felony unlawful aliens. Should you 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.”
